Spinners Suffer Another Walk-Off Loss, 5-4
Published on July 20, 2015 under New York-Penn League (NYPL)
Lowell Spinners News Release
STATEN ISLAND, NY - The Lowell Spinners had been in sole possession of first place in the Stedler Division since June 21. Almost one month later, that privilege ended in Staten Island, as for the second time in as many nights, the Spinners lost on a walk-off hit to the Yankees, 5-4, to fall into a tie with the Tri-City ValleyCats.
Staten Island (18-11) took advantage of shoddy fielding by the Spinners in the bottom of the first, scoring two unearned runs. Leadoff batter Jeff Hendrix singled, stole second and after a throwing error by Hector Lorenzana and a groundout put runners on second and third, Lowell starter Jose Almonte attempted to pick off the runner at first and the ball sailed towards the stands, allowing a run to score. A double brought home the second run of the inning and the Spinners were in an early hole.
The Yankees added two more in the second on a single and an RBI groundout.
Lowell (16-14) cut the lead in half in the fifth inning as Josh Ockimey led off with a double, moved to third on a groundout and scampered home on a wild pitch. After another groundout, Luis Alexander Basabe laced his sixth homerun of the season over the right field wall.
Andrew Benintendi hit his second homerun in as many nights, a solo shot in the sixth on the first pitch of the inning to cut the deficit to one.
The Spinners finally came all the way back in the seventh as Ockimey walked and moved to third on a single by Lorenzana. After a strikeout, Basabe hit a groundball to second that was mishandled and Ockimey scored the game's tying run.
But, it was all for naught, as with one out, a single and a wild pitch put a runner in scoring position for the Yankees. After a groundout, a base hit into left-center scored the go-ahead run and the Spinners were swept.
Almonte, after a shaky start, settled down to retire eight of the last nine batters he faced before giving way to Matt Kent. Almonte finished with five strikeouts against one walk, while just two of the four runs charged to him were earned. Kent struggled with his control, walking three but he allowed just one hit in three innings. Edwar Garcia (3-1, 1.88) suffered his first loss of the season.
Lorenzana had three hits to lead the team, while Basabe's fifth inning homerun gave him sole possession of the New York-Penn League lead in that category.
Lowell returns home tomorrow to begin a very important six-game homestand with their grasp of first in the Stedler Division clearly in jeopardy. Three games against Tri-City begin with Mookie Betts Bobblehead Night and Dioscar Romero (2-2, 2.95) on the mound. Gates open at 6 pm and first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
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