Spinners Let It Slip Away in Ninth, 5-4
July 8, 2014 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
Lowell Spinners News Release
BURLINGTON, VT - The Vermont Lake Monsters, who had three bases-loaded opportunities throughout the game, finally came through in the ninth inning, winning on a walkoff double by Scott Masik, 5-4, over the Lowell Spinners Tuesday afternoon.
With the loss, the Spinners went 1-4 on a five game road trip through Tri-City and Vermont.
Lowell (12-13) wasted no time getting on the board, as they put runners on the corners with one out in the first inning. After Raymel Flores failed to score on a wild pitch and was thrown out at the plate, Jordan Betts delivered an RBI single to knock in Nick Longhi with the game's first run.
The Spinners took advantage of some shoddy Vermont defense in the third as Mike Meyers doubled with one out, and scored on a groundout by Bryan Hudson as Lake Monster shortstop Gabriel Santana attempted to throw out Meyers as he moved to third, but the ball got away and Meyers scampered home.
Vermont (10-15) then tied the game in the bottom half of the inning on an RBI groundout and a triple by second baseman Joe Bennie.
However, Betts smashed his team-leading fifth homerun of the season on the first pitch of the fourth inning to put the Spinners back on top. After Cisco Tellez walked and Franklin Guzman followed with a single, Jordan Prochysen advanced the runners into scoring position with a groundout and Deiner Lopez lifted a sacrifice fly to center field deep enough to score Tellez.
Vermont cut the lead in the sixth to one run as Dayton Alexander singled to lead off the inning, stole second, moved to third on a wild pitch by Mario Alcantara and scored on a sacrifice fly.
The Lake Monsters finally were able to capitalize in the ninth inning as Rob Smorol allowed the leadoff hitter on base with a single, and after a sacrifice bunt, walked a batter before giving way to Enfember Martinez. Masik greeted him with a line drive deep off the outfield wall that ended the game.
Kevin McAvoy, a 4th round pick of the Boston Red Sox, made his season debut for the Spinners and he breezed through two innings, facing one batter over the minimum while striking out one, and inducing an inning-ending double play on his final pitch.
Simon Mercedes came on in relief of McAvoy and battled through three innings, loading the bases in the fourth and fifth innings, only to work out of each jam. Alcantara, a member of the 2013 Lowell Spinners, rejoined the team on the road and allowed one run on two hits with two strikeouts in his 2014 debut. Smorol (0-3, 2.70) held the fort for an inning and two-thirds before giving way to Martinez.
Flores led a ten-hit attack with three hits as every member of the Lowell Spinners starting lineup except one reached base. Betts was 2 for 4 with a homerun while Longhi extended his hitting streak to ten games with his first inning single.
Karsten Whitson, an 11th round pick of the Red Sox, makes his professional debut tomorrow night as the Spinners return home for a six-game homestand that includes their sixth "Futures at Fenway" game at Fenway Park on Sunday. Gates open for NASCAR Night at 6:00 p.m. with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
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