Ninth Inning Rally Falls Short in 3-2 Loss

Aberdeen, MD - The Aberdeen IronBirds fell 3-2 to the Lowell Spinners this evening, setting up a rubber match tomorrow afternoon in the series finale.

Lowell was first to crack the scoreboard when Deiner Lopez hit a ground ball down the left field line. It got by Hector Veloz and the left fielder Randolph Gassaway and rolled all the way into the left field corner. Lopez was able to round the bases and score on an inside the park home run.

Stephen Tarpley was brilliant, none better than working out of a bases loaded, one out jam in the seventh. With runners on second and third with one out, he hit Bryan Hudson to load the bases. He got out of the jam by getting a fly out and a strikeout, stranding the bases loaded and keeping it a 1-0 Lowell lead.

Matt Trowbridge came on to work the eighth inning, completing Tarpley's night. The starter went seven innings, allowed just three hits and one run. He struck out eight, a new career high, without walking a batter.

Trowbridge allowed two runs in the eighth on an error with the bases loaded. With the drawn in infield, Joseph Monge hit a hard ground ball to Hector Veloz, who was playing second base. Veloz committed an error, allowing the ball to get into right field, scoring two runs. Veloz moved from third base to second base in the seventh inning after starting second baseman Federico Castagnini was ejected following a strike out.

In the ninth, the IronBirds mounted a charge and nearly tied the game. Riley Palmer, who entered the game in Castagnini's spot in the lineup, doubled to left center. After an Austin Anderson fly out, Jamill Moquete reached on an infield single, and on the play, Palmer scored when the throw got away from the first baseman. Veloz hit a ground ball to right field that put runners on first and second. Oswill Lartiguez grounded into a fielder's choice, but Moquete advanced to third. He came in to score on a Randolph Gassaway RBI single. Cory Segui then came up with Lartiguez on third base and two outs, but grounded out to end the game.

Aberdeen and Lowell will settle their three game series tomorrow. First pitch at Ripken Stadium is scheduled for 2:35 p.m.

(Photo of Riley Palmer by Bob and Corey Rinker)

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