A New 'Spin' on Things
LOWELL, MA - For the second straight night, Lowell hitters jumped on Hudson Valley pitchers early scoring four runs in the first three innings to defeat the Renegades 8-4 Tuesday night at LeLacheur Park. It was the first time the Renegades had lost consecutive games and lost a series since August 3-4 against Brooklyn. On the bright side, Staten Island lost Tuesday bringing the Renegades magic number to two for clinching the McNamara Division.
One night after snapping the Renegades 12-game winning streak, the Spinners started fast by scoring three in the first. Centerfielder Matt McLean started the inning with a walk. With one out Boston Red Sox designated hitter Ryan Hanigan, playing for Lowell on a rehab assignment, singled to right to put runners at first and second. Leftfielder Tyler Hill then grounded a potential double-play ball to Hudson Valley shortstop Bill Pujols. However, Pujols booted the grounder to load the bases with one out.
Third baseman Bobby Dalec followed the miscue with a single to left to score McLean and give the Spinners a 1-0 lead. First baseman Jerry Downs then provided the big blow with a double to left to score Hanigan and Hill to make it 3-0.
Hudson Valley had a chance to get back into the game by loading the bases with one out in the second. However, catcher Danny De La Calle flied to short right, and Pujols grounded out to short to end the threat.
Lowell would add to their lead with another run in the second. With one out, shortstop C.J. Chatham singled to center before moving to second on a walk. Hill stepped in next and grounded a double to right to bring in Chatham to give the Spinners a 4-0 lead.
Hudson Valley finally got on the board in the third. Centerfielder Jake Fraley led off with a double to right. He would go to third after tagging up on a foul pop caught down the rightfield line by Downs. From there, second baseman Miles Mastrobuoni would ground to second to plate Fraley and make the score 4-1.
The Spinners however would take control of the game with two more runs in the fifth. With runners at second and third and one out, catcher Nick Sciortino lined a single to left to score both runners and give Lowell a 6-1 lead.
They added two more in the seventh when leadoff singles by Hanigan and Hill preceded a double by Dalbec to score Hanigan and move Hill to third. After Downs was hit with a pitch to load the bases, rightfielder Madera hit a weak grounder to first. No play was made at the plate as the out was recorded at first, and Hill scored to make it 8-1 Lowell.
Hudson Valley scored the finally three runs of the game. In the seventh, designated hitter Chris Betts started the inning with a double to right, then moved to third on a groundout. Fraley later singled to right to bring in Betts and make it 8-2. Leftfielder Garrett Whitley then laced a singled off relief pitcher Pat Goetz who then made a bad throw to first allowing Fraley to move to third and Whitley to take second. Mastrobunoni then came up and grounded a single to left to score Whitley bringing the Renegades within five.
In the ninth with two out and no one on, Whitley tripled to center before Mastrobuoni doubled to center to make the final 8-4. The next hitter, third baseman Jim Haley, would strikeout to end the game.
Getting the win for Lowell was starter Josh Pennington (5-3) who allowed an earned run on four hits in five innings of work. The loss went to Renegades starter Noel Rodriguez (4-2) who got touched up for four runs on six hits in only 2.2 innings pitched. Hudson Valley relievers Spencer Jones and Porter Clayton each gave up two runs in an uncharacteristically bad pitching night for the Renegades.
Even though they lost, Hudson Valley collected more hits pounding out 13 safeties in all. Lowe led the way by going 3-4. Fraley, Whitley, Mastrobuoni and Haley each collected two hits. Fraley doubled, scored two runs and drove in another. Whitley tripled and scored a run in the ninth. Mastrobuoni went 2-5 with three RBI and a double. Haley ended his night with two singles.
Lowell had 12 hits including two each from Hanigan, Hill, Dalbec, Downs and Tovar. Hanigan scored twice, while Hill doubled, scored a run and drove in another. Dalbec doubled, scored a run, and drove in two, while Downs doubled and drove in two runs as well. Tovar chipped in with a double and run scored.
A Renegades win and a loss by Staten Island Wednesday would give Hudson Valley the McNamara Division title. Wednesday's game begins at 7:05 against Lowell as Hudson Valley will try to salvage one game of the series. Southpaw Travis Ott (6-0, 0.49 ERA) will go for Hudson Valley against fellow lefty Darwinzon Hernandez (3-4, 3.40 ERA) of Lowell. The Renegades return home Thursday, September 1st to kick off the final regular-season home series of the season against the Vermont Lake Monsters. For tickets, call 845-838-0094 or go to hvrenegades.com.