NYPL Norwich Sea Unicorns

Vasquez Starts Strong as CT Tigers Roll Lowell, 10-3

Published on June 16, 2018 under New York-Penn League (NYPL)
Norwich Sea Unicorns News Release


NORWICH, Ct. - Darwin Alvarado and Gresuan Silverio each drove in three runs and starting pitcher Jose Vasquez took the win after allowing just one hit in five innings as the Connecticut Tigers (2-0) bested the Lowell Spinners (0-2) on Saturday night at Dodd Stadium, 10-3.

Vasquez (Win, 1-0) retired the first six batters in a row and faced the minimum number of hitters through three innings. He finished with five strikeouts, his best output since fanning five batters for Connecticut on July 25, 2017. Tyler Esplin muscled the only base hit for Lowell against Vasquez on an RBI double in the fifth.

Following an Opening Night victory by Carson Lance, Connecticut starters are now 2-0 with a 1.80 earned run average and 10 strikeouts in 10 innings. Vasquez secured his first win since a five-inning, one-run start for the West Michigan Whitecaps in the Class A Midwest League on May 19.

The Tigers jumped all over Lowell starter Juan Perez (Loss, 0-1) with seven runs through the first two frames. Isrrael De La Cruz set the tone with a bunt single on the first pitch in the bottom of the first. Lowell followed with three errors in the inning and Connecticut pounced with sacrifice fly RBIs by Alvarado and Jose Quero to make it 3-0.

Connecticut kept swinging early in counts during the second inning to load the bases. Cam Warner plated a run on a hit-by-pitch and Silverio landed the big blow with a two-run double to the wall in left field.

Lowell chipped away with two runs against Tigers reliever Jhonny Mateo in the sixth, but Connecticut regained the seven-run lead. In the seventh, Silverio capped off his 3-for-5 night in the cleanup spot with an RBI single to center. In his New York-Penn League debut, Alvarado matched Silverio's three RBIs on a run-scoring groundout in the eighth to make it 10-3 Tigers.

Victor Mueses pitched two scoreless innings and Dylan Stock recorded the final three outs as Tigers relievers secured a second straight home win with a bullpen ERA of 2.25 to open the season.

The Tigers go for a three-game sweep of the Spinners on Sunday when Gio Arriera, fourth-round pick of the Detroit Tigers in the 2017 MLB First-Year Player Draft, makes his Connecticut debut with a first pitch at 4:05 p.m.

Tigers fans are invited to celebrate Father's Day and Have A Catch on the field after the game courtesy of Connecticut Municipal Energy. Kids Run the Bases presented by Ben & Jerry's and all kids who take a lap get a coupon for a free ice cream cone at Ben & Jerry's inside Mohegan Sun. Sunday also marks the third year in a row that Minor League Baseball and the Derrick Hall Pro-State Foundation partner to raise awareness of prostate cancer and the importance of screening for early detection. 1,000 mini-bat keychains and 1,000 informational brochures will be handed out at the Dodd Stadium gates.

The Connecticut Tigers are the New York-Penn League affiliate of the Detroit Tigers at Dodd Stadium in Norwich, Connecticut. Individual tickets for all 2018 home games, season memberships to "The Club," ticket mini plans, and Tigers team merchandise are now on sale at Dodd Stadium, over the phone at 860-887-7962, and online at CTTigers.com.

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