NY Penn League: Lowell and Aberdeen split a twin-bill

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The Lowell Spinners returned to LeLacheur Park on Monday night looking to snap a four-game losing streak. Mission accomplished as the Spinners took game one 2-0. However, Aberdeen came back and captured the nightcap 7-2.

The first game was about pitching on both sides as the Spinners trotted out Roenis Ellis in Lowell on a rehab start. He went two innings, throwing 25 pitches and was sharp on the mound. His replacement, Durin O’Linger, was even better throwing five shutout frames in which he gave up only five hits with two strikeouts and zero walks.

Not to be outdone, IronBird starter Tobias Myers was good throwing a complete game, his first of the season and only the third in the league. He did give up two runs both unearned allowed three hits and fanned six.

The runs came across in the third and fourth innings. In the third, Spinners Catcher Nick Sciortino reached on an error by SS Irving Ortega. He advanced on a wild pitch to second went to third on a base hit by DH Jordan Wren and would score when Myers uncorked another wild pitch, 1-0 Lowell.

In the fourth, Garrett Benge reached on an error by second baseman Kirvin Moesquit and would score on a double by Mariano Campana to left, 2-0 Spinners.

O’Linger took care of the rest, retiring seven of the last eight men he faced to record his second win of the year. Myers’ record fell to 2-2.

The second game, like the first, was a seven inning affair and the pro debut of 2017 first round draft pick Tanner Houck. The former Missouri hurler would last only one inning getting roughed up a bit in front of the home folks.

Aberdeen’s first three hitters would reach against Houck via a walk and back to back doubles that plated the three first inning runs. He threw 25 pitches with 15 for strikes.

The IronBirds would add to the lead in the third off of relief pitcher Denyi Reyes to make it 4-0. The Spinners offense came alive in the bottom of the third off of Max Knutson who came on in place of starter Brandon Bonilla who went the first two.

Three straight doubles by Nick Hamilton, Frankie Rios, and Brett Netzer scored two runs with Rios and Netzer getting RBI’s. It was 4-2 Aberdeen after three.

The IronBirds would put the game away by scoring two in the sixth and one more in the seventh for the 7-2 final.

After the game, Manager Iggy Suarez of the Spinners talked about the outing of Houck and O’Linger.

Of O’Linger he said he gave them quality length and innings. He was very happy with his performance.

On Houck, the manager said he settled down as the first went along though he was a little too amped up. He needs to get his arm back in shape and to get his feet wet as a professional ball player.

Houck took the loss in game two and Joe Johnson the third pitcher of the game for the IronBirds to get the win, his first of the season.

Two teams are back at it on Tuesday night.