Spinners Drop Pitchers Duel, 2-1
June 22, 2014 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
Lowell Spinners News Release
LOWELL, MASS. - On a day where the pitching dominated, the Lowell Spinners received one less timely hit than the Tri-City ValleyCats, who emerged with a 2-1 win Sunday afternoon at LeLacheur Park.
Tri-City (6-4) took the lead right at the start following a lead-off walk by Marc Wik. After a stolen base and a groundout advanced Wik to third, A.J. Reed brought him home with a run-scoring groundout, giving the ValleyCats a 1-0 lead.
There the score would remain, as the Spinners struck out seven of their first nine trips to the plate. In the bottom of the fourth inning Lowell (5-5) was able to break through. Deiner Lopez beat out a one-out grounder to shortstop for an infield single, advancing to second on a wild pitch. After a Sam Travis single moved him to third, a Franklin Guzman fielder's choice brough home Lopez to even the score at one.
The ValleyCats took the lead for good however in the sixth inning. With Rob Smorol on in relief, J.D. Davis led off the inning with a triple to the right-centerfield gap. Ricky Gingras followed with a groundout to the hole at short, scoring Davis to put the Cats ahead, 2-1.
The Spinners had a chance to tie it up in the seventh after a one-out single by Nick Longhi and two-out single by Nick Moore put two runners on. Moore would steal second but Derick Velazquez came out of the bullpen to strike out Raymel Flores to end the threat, and the Spinners went in order in the eighth and ninth innings to close out the loss.
The loss wasted a strong effort by Willie Ethington, making his first start of the season. In four innings, Ethington allowed just the first inning run on one hit and three walks, striking out two. Smorol (0-1, 2.25) allowed just one run but it was a big one. He struck out one in his three innings of work before German Taveras navigated in-and-out of trouble through two scoreless innings to give the Spinners a chance at the comeback.
Offensively the Spinners bats were quiet once again, limited to just five hits. Moore led the way offensively with two hits, including a double, but the Spinners have now recorded just eight hits over their last two games.
The homestand continues Monday night as the Spinners salute the World Championship Red Sox teams. The 2004, 2007 and 2013 World Series trophies will be on hand and the first 1,000 fans will receive a 2013 World Series Championship player banner courtesy of Align Credit Union. Jason Garcia (0-0, 0.00) is on the mound for the 7:05 first pitch.
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