Walks Sink Spinners, 4-3
July 17, 2015 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
Lowell Spinners News Release
LOWELL, MASS. - Lowell Spinners pitchers combined to walk five batters, four of whom came around to score as the Connecticut Tigers withstood a ninth inning rally from the Spinners to salvage a win in the three-game series, 4-3, Friday night at LeLacheur Park.
Connecticut (12-14) capitalized on back-to-back walks that led off the third inning. After both runners were sacrificed into scoring position a Patrick Mackenzie infield single plated a run and a second run came around to score on an error by Chad De La Guerra to give the Tigers a 2-0 lead.
Lowell (16-11) cut the lead in half in the fourth inning after Austin Rei reached on an error to lead off the inning. Rei advanced to second on a balk and came around to score on an RBI single by Isaias Lucena to pull within a run at 2-1.
The Tigers answered quickly in the fifth, again taking advantage of a walk, this time a two-out walk by Mackenzie. Back-to-back singles brought him in to push the lead back to two runs.
The Spinners once again pulled within a run in the seventh, this time on a Brandon Magee leadoff walk. After he was sacrificed to second, he moved to third on a stolen base, coming around on an Andrew Benintendi single to make it a 3-2 game.
Connecticut scored an all-important insurance run in the ninth inning after Steven Fuentes working a leadoff walk. The Tigers sacrificed him to second and he took third on a balk, scoring on an RBI single from Victor Padron.
The additional run was hugely important as the Spinners staged a ninth inning rally. Jeremy Rivera singled up the middle with one out and took second on a walk by De La Guerra. Benintendi drove a ball to left, but Padron made a great leaping catch. Tate Matheny followed with an RBI single but Rei flew out to center to end the game.
Benintendi picked up his first two hits at LeLacheur Park, showing impressive speed on a triple to right field and adding the RBI single. Mitch Gunsolus and Lucena, making his Spinners debut, also added multi-hit games in the loss as every member of the Spinners reached base at least once.
Javier Rodriguez (0-1, 7.27) suffered the first loss of his professional career, allowing three runs on three hits and four walks in 4.2 innings. Daniel Gonzalez allowed one run on three hits, striking out a pair and issuing one costly walk. Danny Zandona picked up the final two outs of the ninth.
The Spinners now head to Staten Island for a three game set with the Yankees. Luis Ramos (1-1, 5.55) gets the ball for a 7pm first pitch.
New York-Penn League Stories from July 17, 2015
- Late Surge Propels 'Cats to 9-2 Win over Vermont - Tri-City ValleyCats
- Storms End Scrappers' Chances - Mahoning Valley Scrappers
- Brooklyn Diehl's Staten Island a Loss - Brooklyn Cyclones
- Walks Sink Spinners, 4-3 - Lowell Spinners
- Cyclones Spoil #beatBKLYN Night, 4-3 - Staten Island Yankees
- Lake Monsters Fall 9-2 In Series Finale At Tri-City On Friday - Vermont Lake Monsters
- Connecticut Wins Final Game of Series against Lowell - Norwich Sea Unicorns
- Hudson Valley Wins Pitcher's Duel Against Aberde - Hudson Valley Renegades
- Spikes' Win Streak Stopped by Black Bears in 7-3 Defeat - State College Spikes
- IronBirds Fall to Hudson Valley, 2-1 - Aberdeen IronBirds
- Cutters Huge First Inning Leads to Sweep of Doubleheader - Williamsport Crosscutters
- Bossartâ??s Blast Seals Win for Williamsport - Williamsport Crosscutters
- State College Spikes Game Notes - July 17 at West Virginia - State College Spikes
- Relay for Life Night Sunday, July 19 - Brooklyn Cyclones
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
