Smith Sparks Spinners: Lowell Snaps Five-Game Skid with 5-3 Win Over Bees

Read Time:2 Minute, 48 Second

On Saturday night, before a LeLacheur Park crowd of 2,511, the Lowell Spinners snapped a five-game losing streak with a 5-3 win over the New Britain Bees. Pitching was the name of the game for the Spinners. Starting pitcher Caden Smith set the tone with six solid innings of five-hit, one-earned-run baseball. He walked one and struck out five to earn his first win of the season against one loss. Lowell’s offense also got two-hit nights from both Patrick Connors and Jordan Henriquez.

The only run Smith allowed came in the second inning. A leadoff base hit from Dylan Swarts (2-for-4, 2 RS) moved to second on a stolen base and advanced to third on a single to left by Amato Civitello. Swarts then scored on a sacrifice fly to right by Myles Gythfeldt to give the Bees an early 1-0 lead. Lowell quickly erased that deficit in the bottom of the frame against Bees starting pitcher Lee Vitarelli, putting up a three-spot. Lorenzo Camilleri reached on an error by right fielder Robbie Lamond, advanced on a passed ball, moved to third on a single by Esteban Dessureault, and scored on a Spencer Warfield single through the left side to tie the game 1-1. A double steal by Warfield and Dessureault then forced a throwing error by Bees catcher Garrett McGovern, allowing Dessureault to score and put the Spinners ahead 2-1. A single by Ryan O’Leary brought home Warfield with the third run of the frame, making it 3-1 Spinners after two.

In the third, a two-run single to center field by Camilleri pushed Lowell’s lead to 5-1. From there, Smith cruised through the middle innings, retiring eight of the nine hitters he faced; the only New Britain hitter to reach base during that stretch was promptly erased on a double play. Vitarelli was chased after five innings, giving up nine hits and five runs (four earned) while walking none and striking out four. The Bees’ bullpen duo of Brendan Kline and Faye Blagg kept New Britain in the game, throwing a combined three scoreless innings while allowing just a single hit with four punchouts and one walk.

Chris Klueber replaced Smith in the seventh inning. Klueber ran into some trouble when Swarts singled to center, stole second, and advanced to third on a wild pitch. He scored on a groundout by Amato Civitello to cut the lead to 5-2. With two outs, Gythfeldt reached on an infield hit and scored all the way from first base on a bloop single to left field that fell safely among three Spinners players, narrowing the gap to 5-3.

Klueber was then relieved by Henry Hebert, who covered the final two innings to lock down his first save of the summer. Hebert was sharp, retiring six of the seven hitters he faced, with the only baserunner reaching via a hit-by-pitch. He struck out four of the seven batters he faced to close the door. With the victory, Lowell improved its record to 6-16. Meanwhile, the Bees extended their losing streak to three games, dropping to 12-9. Lowell now heads to Vermont for a two-game road trip on Sunday and Monday before returning home to face the Nashua Silver Knights on Tuesday.