Spinners win home opener 5-3 over Yankees

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Spinners win home opener 5-3 over Yankees

Despite two rain delays, one before the game began, and a second one during the early stages of the game, baseball returned to LeLachuer Park. The 2018 Lowell Spinners got underway at home and their opponent on Monday night was the Staten Island Yankees.

In a tightly contested game that was not decided until the late innings, the Spinners received a big two-run double off the bat of Andre Colon to give Lowell a 5-3 victory and evened their record at 2-2.

The Spinners quickly got that run back in their half of the second. A walk to Xavier LeGrant was followed by a booming home run to right field by Tyler Esplin, his first of the year and the team’s first as well. 2-1 Spinners after three.

Staten Island retied the game on a sac fly to center field by Eric Wagaman. It scored Frederick Cuevas who led off the inning with a double to right. 2-2.

The Spinners took the lead back in the bottom of the third with speed playing a key role. First, there was a walk to Cole Brannen, who then stole second base for his fourth steal on the young season. He has yet to be caught. He advanced to third on a wild pitch by Yankees starting pitcher Harold Cortijo. Staten Island catcher Ryan Lidge tried to nail Brannen heading to third base, but his throw sailed into left field for a throwing error allowing Brannen to score and give the Spinners back the lead at 3-2 after three.

The game would be turned over to each team bullpen, with Lowell’s Haworth going five strong innings, and Staten Island’s Cortijo delivering four-plus solid frames himself.

The Yankees tied the game again in the seventh as Lidge atoned for his earlier mistake with a double to left field. He would score the tying run when Danienger Perez’ groundball to third was booted by Spinners third baseman Korby Batesole. The unearned run was given up by Spinners relief pitcher Oddanier Mosqueda.

The Spinners finished the comeback in the eighth on a single to left by LeGrant off Yankees relief hurler Garrett Mundell. That was followed by a walk to Esplin. Spinners manager Cory Wimberly elected not to bunt and instead, allowed Tyler Deaden a chance to hit. The move did not pay off as Deaden struck out. But the manager was saved from any second guessing as Colon came through with a two-run double to left field to give Lowell the winning margin of 5-3.

Alberto Franco got the win as he set down all six hitters he faces over two innings of work. Mundell took the loss. The teams are back at it on Tuesday night, with first pitch scheduled for 6:35 pm.