Spinners Surge Late to Defeat Starfires 7–3 in Final Weekend Home Game

The final weekend home game of the summer took place on Saturday, as the Lowell Spinners hosted the Westfield Starfires before a crowd of 3,325 fans at LeLacheur Park. With both teams officially eliminated from playoff contention, each squad entered the night seeking a strong finish to the summer campaign.

Lowell sent Ian Keusch to the mound for his 11th appearance of the season, entering the game with a 5.64 ERA across 44.2 innings. Westfield countered with Noah Farrell, who made his seventh appearance carrying a crisp 2.13 ERA in 12.2 innings.

Westfield broke the ice in the second frame when Morrie Fried reached on an error by Spinners shortstop Jack Stead and later crossed the plate on an RBI groundout by Caleb Winkley to make it 1–0.

Through the first three innings, the Spinners stayed active on the basepaths, swiping two bases to bring their season total to 151.

However, Westfield expanded its lead in the fourth. The Starfires strung together three consecutive hits, capped by an RBI double to center field from Easton Sanders that scored Cole Camara, who had singled to start the frame. Westfield added a third run later in the inning on a fielder’s choice to shortstop, stretching the lead to 3–0.

Lowell got on the board in the bottom half of the fourth. Farrell exited after 3.2 innings (3 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO), turning the ball over to reliever Thomas Pirog.

Zander Bratspis reached on a fielder’s choice, stole second base for Lowell’s 152nd steal of the year, advanced to third on a throwing error by Westfield catcher Caleb Winkley, and scored on a base hit to left field by Spencer Warfield. Warfield then came around to score during the next at-bat on the back end of a double steal—Lowell’s fourth steal of the night and 154th of the season—cutting the deficit to 3–2.

Keusch finished his night after five innings, allowing four hits, three runs (one earned), and one walk while striking out three. Mikey St. Martin came on in relief in the sixth and kept the Starfires in check.

The Spinners broke the game wide open in the bottom of the sixth against a busy Westfield bullpen. After Jake O’Connor pitched 1.1 innings, Walker Carroll entered with a runner on base but was unable to record an out. Peter Ward became the third pitcher of the frame for Westfield, but Lowell took advantage, scoring four runs on two hits—highlighted by a steal of home by Jack Quigley—to leap ahead 6–3.

Lowell tacked on an insurance run in the eighth when Warfield brought home a runner with a sacrifice fly to make it 7–3. Francis Comeau slammed the door over the final two innings, sealing the 7–3 victory for the Spinners.

After the game, Lowell manager Kevin Graber praised his team for playing an entertaining contest, pointing to strong performances from all three pitchers. He also highlighted the running game, as the Spinners compiled seven stolen bases on the night.

Graber noted how rewarding it was to reach the 20-win mark for the summer, calling it “a nice round number.”

The Spinners now head on the road to Vermont for a three-game series before returning to LeLacheur Park on Wednesday to host Worcester.