Spinners four-run second key in 7-3 win over Connecticut

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Game two of the division series between the Connecticut Tigers and Lowell Spinners took place on Sunday afternoon in Lowell. The struggles of the Spinners has made this a race to the finish. These two teams, between now and the end of the season, will meet each other five more times. So wins, to say the least, are important for both sides. Connecticut took game one on the strength of a three-run seventh inning on Saturday night. The Spinners were looking to even the series on Sunday and they did on the strength of a four-run second on the way to a 7-3 win. They now lead the division by three and a half games.

That quest got off to a good start for Lowell as they would bat around in the fourth inning against Connecticut (30-32) starting pitcher, Xavier Javier (3-3). He had a rough start giving up four runs on six hits off the Tiger’s right-handed pitcher in the inning. There were not many hard-hit balls but were instead, well placed. The hardest hit ball off a Spinners bat was a double down the right-field line by Lowell second baseman Cameron Cannon. That extra-base hit would drive in two runs. On the mound, Lowell was getting good starting pitching from Aldo Ramirez who was looking to pick up his second win of the season. Both would come vs the Tigers. Through five innings, Ramirez (2-2) did his job, especially after his team gave him the lead.

The Spinners (34-29 ), added to their lead in the sixth with a three-run frame in which Lowell only collected two hits, but took advantage of a couple of walks and a hit baseman. The hits were timely as Gilberto Jimenez had a run-scoring single to right. It was a part of a two-hit night for him. Then Cannon, with a RBI single to left. It was part of a three-hit, two-RBI night for him to go along with some nifty work with the glove on the defensive side at second base.

In fact, Cannon was not the only Spinners to come up with some nice defensive work. Right fielder, Luke Bandy, made a very nice diving catch in foul ground in the third inning. Ramirez’s night ended in the sixth after 2 H, 2 R, and 1 ER. He did run into some trouble in the sixth before he left the game. In that inning, the first two hitters would reach on a single and a fielder’s choice throwing error by Spinners shortstop Antoni Flores. Both those runners would come around to score off of Lowell relief pitcher Miquel Suero, as he gave up a three-run HR off the scoreboard in left by Tigers third baseman Nick Quintana his first of the year. I t was 7-3 Lowell going to the later innings. For the Spinners, it was the 43 HR allowed this season.

That would be all that Connecticut would get on this night, as the Spinners bullpen took care of the latter third of the game. Suero went three innings in which he gave up only one run on one hit and Kris Jackson got the save, his seventh of the season. As manager Luke Montz said afterward, ” his bullpen was outstanding” so was his starter, Ramirez. Montz quote was “he put up a zero when we gave him the lead.”

Outfielder, Luke Bandy, talked about a team meeting that took place before Sunday night’s game. A “so what” slogan has been taken by this team whether things go well or badly. He also talked about his offense after a two-hit, one RBI and one run scored effort. He said, “I have been working in the cages with our hitting coach trying to take the ball up the middle.” His first base hit in the second, an RBI hit to center field, part of that four-run frame, was a good example of that. Lowell second baseman, Cameron Cannon said: “the light nature of the clubhouse has been a big help through this tough stretch of games.”

Game three of this series is on Monday night which will be swing game for sure for both teams. It will be their last game before the All-Star break.

First pitch is set for 7 pm.