Connecticut takes the game and series 4-3 over Lowell

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Connecticut takes the game and series 4-3 over Lowell

The Lowell Sinners (8-10) have been around the .500 mark since the season began. Their problem to date has been being able to either get to the break-even point or get above it. Tuesday night at home, in the finale of a three-game series with the Connecticut Tigers the Spinners had another opportunity to get to even on the season. Instead, one bad inning stopped them from getting there.

Connecticut, (7-11) took advantage of the mistakes and won the game 4-3. With the win, they took the series as well. Spinners Manager Cory Wimberly, said as much after the game. He said his team, did not take care of the baseball in the 4th inning. Those two mistakes led to two Connecticut runs that Lowell’s offense could not overcome.

For one of the rare times this season, it was the Spinners who struck first in this game. Facing Tigers starter Jose Vasquez, Lowell they grabbed the early advantage by scoring two in the first inning. Leadoff hitter Jarren Duran got the rally going by singling to center field. One out later he would cross the plate with the first run of the game. He would score all the way from first on a double down the left-field line by DH Michael Chavis. It was his first hit and RBI since returning to the diamond. Chavis scored his first run of this season two batters later when he was driven in by Devlin Granberg, who singled to right field. 2-0 Spinners.

Connecticut would cut the lead in half. In the top of the third, facing Spinners starter Brian Brown, the soft-tossing lefty gave up a triple to dead center field, some 400 feet by second baseman Alexis Garcia. Garcia then scored the Tigers first run in a RBI base hit by first baseman Jose Quero. 2-1 Spinners.

In the fourth, it would be the defense of Lowell that let the game slip away. After Brown retired the first hitter of the frame, he would give up back to back base hits to Cam Warner and Gresuan Silverio. With runners at first and second, Darwin Alvarado hit a fielder choice ground ball, the out at second was recorded, but Duran’s throw to first sailed over the head of Xavier LeGrant. It would allow Warmer to score to tie the game at 2-2.

Alvarado was then wild pitched to second base, and when catcher Kole Cottam’s throw to second base sailed into center field, Alvarado advanced to third. He would break the tie on a infield hit to first base by Teddy Hoffman. He beat LeGrant to the bag with good hustle down the line. 3-2 Connecticut.

Brown went the first four for Lowell and his line was four innings, five hits, three runs, two earned, zero walks, and five strikeouts. It was a pretty good line but, too bad his defense let him down for one inning.

Tyler Ahearn came into the game in the fifth for Brown. In the sixth, he gave up Connecticut’s fourth run of the night. Sam McMillan singled to left-center field, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and scored the Tigers fourth run of the night on a single up the middle by Alvarado. 4-2 Connecticut.

Vasquez went six for the Tigers and his pitching line for the night was six innings, eight hits, two runs, both earned, one walk, and two strikeout. He was replaced by Ethan DeCastner who gave one back in the eighth. With one down, Chavis walked and scores Lowell’s third run on a double to left field by Tyler Deaden. It was part of a three-for-four night for the Spinners right fielder. 4-3 Connecticut.

However, Tiger Manager Gary Cathcart made one more call to the bullpen. He brought on Yaya Cherntouf, who would retire the Spinners over his one and a third inning of work to pick up his second save of the season.

Vasquez gets the win (2-1), Brown takes the loss (0-2).

The two teams will pay three more games This time they will be played at Dodd Stadium in Connecticut.