Spinners lose fifth straight in 7-1 sweep by State College

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Spinners lose fifth straight in 7-1 sweep by State College

When the Lowell Spinners, returned home from their last road trip, they were on top of the Steadler Division and the wildcard standings. But after a one and five homestand, things look a little different.

For the first time since he became manager of the Spinners (21- 21), Cory Wimberly was openly not happy with his teams play. He suggested he was watching a different team and in his words, a team “that did not compete” on Sunday night.

There were two errors in the game and eight on the homestand. Sunday night’s bad baserunning can be added to the mix. It added up to a sweep with a 7-1 loss to the State College Spikes and finished their homestand in disappointing style.

It did not help matters when your starting pitcher’s outing gets cut short. Such was the case for Lowell’s starter Brian Brown. He lasted only two innings, gave up three hits and no runs. After the game, Wimberly said that Brown might be going through some “arm fatigue”. Whatever the case, it forced the manager to use his bullpen a little differently than planned. The results were not desirable.

After Brown’s early exit, the Spikes (18-23 ) jumped on his replacement Taylor Ahearn for three runs in the third. A costly fielding error by Spinners shortstop Grant Williams opened the door for State College. With runners at the corners and one down, Edwin Fiquera doubled into right field, one of two doubles on the night and six extra-base hits for State College in the game. It scored both runners giving the Spikes a 2-0 lead.

Fiquera advanced to third on a throw to the plate and then scored the third run on a single up the middle by Stanley Espinal. 3-0 State College.

On the mound for the Spikes was Diego Cordero. His last two times on the hill for State College he had given his team at least six innings. On Sunday night he made it three as he shut down the Spinners offense with a combination of curveballs and fastballs. The left-hander’s line of 6.1 IP, four hits, one earned run, one walk, four strikeouts was proof of his command.

The Spinners plated their only run in the seventh. With one out Trey Ganns doubles to left-center. Kole Cottam brought him home with a base hit to right field. The RBI was Cottam’S team-leading 21st on the season. The run-scoring hit did knock Cordero out of the game, however, he left with a four-run lead at 5-1.

In the eighth, the Spikes took care of any Spinners late-game heroics by scoring two more runs against Kevin Blondic. Lars Nootbaar doubled to right-center field. Wadye Ynfante traded places with Nootbaar by doubling down the left-field line. It was 6-1 Spikes. Ynfante would cross the plate on a single by Justin Toerner to make it 7-1 State College.

In his post-game comments, Wimberly still maintained this is a good team. But his also said, “this team needs to get better defensively and this team is close to breaking out and getting back on track”.

Cordero is your winner and is now 2-1, Ahearn was the loser he is 2-2.

The Spinners now head out on a big six-game road trip beginning in Hudson Valley on Monday Night.