Chavis Shaves 'Gades

LOWELL, MA -Lowell third baseman Michael Chavis homered, doubled twice and drove in three runs, while leftfielder Devlin Granberg singled twice and drove in two more as the Lowell Spinners prevented a sweep by defeating the Hudson Valley Renegades 9-6 Monday night from Edward. A. LeLacheur Park. The Spinners had to overcome an early 6-1 deficit to get the win.
The night got off to a hot start for the Renegades as leftfielder Michael Smith and centerfielder Tanner Dodson led off the contest with back-to-back solo homeruns to give Hudson Valley a 2-0 lead. Both blasts were to right-centerfield and were the first round-trippers of the year for each hitter.
The Renegades added to their lead in the second as a double from first baseman Allen Smoot scored rightfielder Marvin Malone from second to make it 3-0. Smoot scored two hitters later when MLB infielder Brandon Phillips made a fielding error at second for the Spinners off the bat of Smith to up the Renegades' lead to 4-0.
Lowell got a run back in the second as two singles and a walk loaded the bases with nobody out. First baseman Trey Granns came up next and grounded into a 4-6-3 double play to kill the rally but score the runner from third.
Hudson Valley added two more runs in the third on a two-run double to right by shortstop Ford Proctor to increase the lead to 6-1.
However, the Spinners would respond with a five-run bottom of the third to tie the game, and never looked back. Three doubles from the first four batters scored two runs and pulled Lowell to within three. The RBI doubles came from Chavis and Granberg. After a fielding error from Renegades second baseman Garrett Giovannelli put runners at the corners, rightfielder Tyler Esplin drilled a triple to right to score both runners. Hudson Valley starting pitcher Easton McGee followed that up with a wild pitch to score Esplin, and just like that the game was tied at six.
The home team took the lead for good in the fourth when a double and single to start the inning put runners at the corners. Renegades pitcher Andrew Gist came on in relief of McGee and promptly uncorked a wild pitch to give Lowell the lead. Three batters later, Granberg doubled in the other runner from second on a deep flyball to center as the Spinners increased their lead to 8-6.
Things stayed that way until the eighth inning when, with two out and nobody aboard, Chavis delivered a solo homerun to right-center to provide the Spinners some insurance at 9-6. In the ninth, two walks and a hit-batsmen loaded the bases with two away for the Renegades, however Proctor flied out to right to end the ballgame.  
Chavis finished the game 3-4 and scored two runs in addition to his RBI total. Granburg went 2-4 with two doubles, two RBI and a run scored, while Esplin finished 2-4 with a couple of singles, two RBI and a run himself. Centerfielder Jarren Duran chipped in with two singles and two runs scored to aid the Lowell cause as the Spinners pounded out 11 hits.
Hudson Valley had nine hits, including two apiece from Dodson, Proctor, and Smoot. Proctor had two RBI while Smoot added a couple of singles and scored a run.
The win went to Spinners reliever Yorvin Pantoja (1-0) who allowed two runs on four hits in four innings of work. The loss went to McGee (3-1) who gave up eight runs, seven earned, on nine hits in only three-plus frames. Though he struggled, Lowell closer Oddanier Mosqueda nailed down his first save of the season by pitching two scoreless innings.  
The Renegades were held to no runs on two hits over the final six innings of the game after registering six runs on seven hits over the first three frames.
After an day off tomorrow, Hudson Valley will kickoff a three-game series and homestand against the West Virginia Black Bears beginning Wednesday, July 11^th. Game time is 7:05 for all three contests. Wednesday's series opener will feature right-hander Paul Campbell (2-1, 2.21 ERA) on the hill for the Renegades against fellow righty Mike LoPresti (1-0, 3.00 ERA) of the Black Bears. Tickets can be purchased online at hvrenegades.com or by calling the ticket office at 845-838-0094.