Lowell Spinners salvage series with 3-2 win

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Spinners Manager, Iggy Suarez has said over the last month of the season just how tired his players are. That statement rang true on Tuesday night as the Lowell Spinners snapped a six-game losing streak with a run in the eighth to beat Hudson Valley 3-2.

Durin O’Linger (4-1) gets the win for the Spinners with four solid innings of relief. His Manager said afterward he attacked the zone, and pitched to contact. It allowed his defense to make plays behind him, especially center fielder Coke Brannon who in the eighth inning with a man aboard, robbed Hudson Valley Oscar Rojas of extra bases with a diving catch of a ball hit into the left center field gap. It was the best defensive play of the year by a Spinners outfielder this summer.

The game was tied 2-2 heading into the bottom of the eighth inning. Alex Valverde was on the mound for the Renegades and with a man out Valverde walked Kervin Suarez. Next man up Nick Hamilton reached on an infield hit to deep shortstop. Charlie Madden then walked to load the bases with one down.

To this point in the game, the Spinners were 0-10 with runners in scoring position. (Hudson Valley went 0-7). Alexander Martinez had a chance to change that.

The Renegades brought the infield and outfield in, Martinez hit a ground ball to second baseman Vidal Brujan who for a split second hesitated with what to do with the baseball. He did get a force of Madden running from first but Suarez scooted home with what proved to be the winning run. 3-2 Spinners the final.

After the game, Suarez talked about the physical grind these players are going through as well as mental fatigue. He pointed out the game tended to speed up when you are mentally tired.

Valerde is Hudson Valley’s tough luck losing pitcher and his record is now 2-1.

The loss for the Renegades could be difficult to come back from as they try to wrestle the McNamara Division from Staten Island. Going into Tuesday night’s contest, one game is all that separated the two teams with two games remaining.

The Spinners are scheduled to finish the 2017 year at home with two games against the Vermont Lake Monsters. Weather could put a damper on that idea. If they play Wednesday night first pitch is at 6:35 pm.