Spinners bats silent again losing to Tri-City 5-0

Read Time:2 Minute, 21 Second

With the playoffs now in the rear-view mirror, the Lowell Spinners could now just go out and play baseball. Too bad not everyone got the memo. For the second time in this series, Lowell (34- 38) was shut out by Valley Cats (40-31) pitching. This time it was by a 5-0 score.

As was the case earlier this week, putting bat on ball was a problem. Spinners hitters muster only two hits and five others reached base via a walk. There were ten strikeouts in the game, and Lowell left only five baserunners for the game, with four of them in scoring position.

They did get excellent starting pitching from Yasel Santana. He worked five innings of one-hit ball with seven strikeouts making his Spinners debut. The infield turned three double plays. However, it was a rough night for Lowell third baseman Brandon Howlett. He committed three errors, including a missed foul pop he dropped because he did not open his glove to try and make the catch.

The only Spinners threat came in the first against Tri-City Starter Mark Moclair. With two down, Moclair issued back to back walks to Howlett and Trey Ganns. Xavier LeGrant then ripped a single to left and Howlett was waived home by Manager Corey Wimberly. Howlett was thrown out at the plate by left fielder Andres Santana for the Valley Cats.

Moclair would go the first three giving up only one hit and two strikeouts. He did walk four batters, but it never got him in trouble.

The game belonged to the bullpens, and Tri-City’s was better. Brett Daniels would come on and throw four scoreless innings allowing only one hit. He would get credit for the win, his third of the season.

The Valley Cats scored all the runs they would need on Friday night in the seventh inning facing Lowell’s Alan Demchak. A Logan Mattix double began the frame after a strikeout. Mattix would score on an RBI base hit to center by Juan Pineda. 1-0 Valley Cats.

Pineda then stole second base and came around himself on an RBI single by Orlando Marquez to right field, 2-0 Tri-City.

It would be all the runs they would need. Although they did tack on three more in the eighth just to be safe.

Demchak pitched one and a third giving four hits, two earned runs and two strikeouts to take the loss for Lowell, He is now 0-1.

The final series of the season begins on Saturday when Lowell plays host to the Connecticut Tigers.

The Spinners were informed before game time on Friday they will be without Catcher Alberto Schmidt for the rest of the season. The NYPL and MILB have suspended Schmidt for 76 games for testing positive for a banned substance.