Spinners sweep 'Cats with 9-6 victory

Tri-City drops sixth in last eight games despite two home runs

By Peter Fiorentino

August 28, 2016

TROY - The ValleyCats drilled two home runs and out-hit their opponent, but left ten men on base in Sunday night's 9-6 loss to the Spinners at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium. The 'Cats, who are 2-8 in their last ten games, were swept for the second time this season and have lost their last seven home contests.

Kevin Hill (1-4) suffered the loss, allowing five runs in three innings, including Jerry Downs' three-run homer (3) to right field in the third inning. Southpaw Salvador Montaño walked seven batters in two innings of relief, allowing three runs to score. The two pitchers combined to walked nine Spinners, and four of those nine came into score.

Offensively, the ValleyCats tallied 12 hits, but left five men in scoring position. Taylor Jones hit his seventh home run of the season in the fourth inning, to make it a 5-3 ballgame and keep the 'Cats in striking distance. Carmen Benedetti smacked two doubles and a base hit, but was stranded each time he reached base. Rodrigo Ayarza launched his second home run of the year to right field in the fifth.

Lowell's Kevin Steen (3-4) picked up his third win of the season despite surrendering four runs on seven hits, with all four runs coming via the long ball. In relief, Algenis Martinez limited the 'Cats to three hits in three innings.

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED: Despite the loss, the 'Cats gloves looked rigid as ever. Miguelangel Sierra made an on-the-run, 360-degree snag, throwing to first in time to get Andy Perez for the first out of the second inning.

Not to be out-done, Rodrigo Ayarza made arguably the ValleyCats catch of the year in the sixth frame. After Montaño walked two batters to open the inning, Sean Stutzman came in to relieve him. First pitch-swinging against the new lefty, Bobby Dalbec skied a fly ball to right field, in foul territory. Ayarza leaped up and laid out for a spectacular catch, giving the 'Cats the momentum they needed to get out of the inning.

Stutzman, meanwhile, looked sharp in his four frames of work, finishing with three punch outs. He allowed just a run on two hits, and retired the first 11 batters he faced.

Trailing 9-4 in the ninth, Brauly Mejia (2-for-4) walked with two outs, and advanced to second on Jordan Weems' wild pitch. Ronnie Dawson followed with an RBI double to left to pull within two and Jones served up an RBI single to make it 9-6, but Sierra struck out to end the game.

SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS: Tri-City hit two home runs in a game for the first time since August 11. Taylor Jones' blast in the fourth was his first since July 26, and Ayarza's solo shot was just his second of the season.

The 'Cats pitchers issued nine walks on the night, a season high for Lowell batters. The staff also handed out 21 free passes in the series, a season high for the ValleyCats in a three game set.

POSTSEASON RACE: With eight games left on the schedule, the 'Cats are eight games behind the Spinners in the Stedler Division, and are five and a half out of the Wild Card, behind Connecticut and Staten Island. The 'Cats have three games left against the Yankees, and two left against the Tigers, with their elimination number at one.

NEXT UP: Tri-City travels to Centennial Field for a three game set against the Lake Monsters, beginning tomorrow, August 29. Carlos Sanabria takes the hill for the 'Cats, with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. in Vermont. The ValleyCats come back home for three against Staten Island, before ending the season with two games in Connecticut against the Tigers.