Beyond the Box Score: Spinners 3, IronBirds 2
Following a dominant 5-2 victory on Friday night, the IronBirds lost 3-2 Saturday night to the Lowell Spinners. Despite a ninth inning rally, the IronBirds suffered their 14th one run loss of the season and their sixth at home.
Stephen Tarpley took the mound for the IronBirds Saturday night and had himself a spectacular night. Tarpley went seven complete innings where he allowed one run off of three hits and struck out eight. Going pitch for pitch with Spinners LHP Jake Drehoff, Tarpley had everything working for him last night.
"He was sharp with all of his pitches, his curveball was sharp and we were both on the same page," said IronBirds catcher Jonah Heim. "He (Tarpley) was painting his fastball inside which was really getting the hitters off the plate a little bit. His inside fastball was really key tonight."
Tarpley allowed just two hitters to reach base through five innings. Jordan Betts was able to reach first following an error on Hector Veloz and Deiner Lopez broke up Tarpley's no hitter with a single in the third. The lefty was able to record five strikeouts and eight ground ball outs through the first five innings.
The sixth inning was a little different story however as Deiner Lopez stepped up to the plate yet again. Lopez grooved a fastball down the third base line that rolled all the way to the fence. Randolph Gassaway misplayed the ball in left field which allowed Lopez to try for an inside the park home run. Wilkerson's throw went wide of Jonah Heim and and the Spinners took a 1-0 lead. Tarpley battled back and got the next three Spinners in order.
The Spinners were able to add two more runs in the eighth inning as Mike Meyers and Jordan Betts came around to score.
The Spinners took that 3-0 lead to the ninth inning, and brought on Carlos Pinales, who was going for his 15th save of the season. Riley Palmer, who replaced Federico Castagnini following an ejection in the seventh, led off the ninth inning off with a double to the left-center field fence. With one out, Jamill Moquete drove in Palmer with a single and an error on the play. Moquete then came around to score on a Hector Veloz single which made the score 3-2. As Oswill Lartiguez stood on third and Randolph Gassaway at first, the IronBirds sent Cory Segui to the plate. Segui was 1-2 on the night with a walk as he stepped to the plate with a chance to tie the game. Segui sharply hit a ground ball at the Spinners shortstop who flipped it over to Lopez at second to end the game.
Jamill Moquete went 2-4 with a run scored, collecting his fifth multi-hit game and Jonah Heim collected his second multi-hit game of the season as he went 2-3. "I felt really good at the plate tonight, I was able to put the ball in play and make something happen," said Heim.
The IronBirds and Spinners will battle for a series win Sunday afternoon as first pitch is scheduled for 2:35. The IronBirds will look to win their seventh series of the year and fourth at home.
(Photo of Jonah Heim by Bob and Corey Rinker)