Lowell twice loses two-run lead, fall to Tigers, 7-4
Lowell (9-23) jumped out to an early led in the second inning. Jake Davies led off the inning with a single to right-centerfield and with one out Matt Marquis crushed an 0-2 offering over the left field wall for an early 2-0 Spinners lead.
Connecticut (14-18) wasted little time pulling even, knotting the game in the top of the third. Jake Stewart reached on a Deven Marrero fielding error to lead off the inning, only to be erased when Oscar Perez gunned him down attempting to steal second. Jared Reeves followed with a walk and a Danry Vasquez single put runners at first and second. Juaner Aguasvivas continued his assault of Spinners pitching over the past two nights, doubling to center, scoring both Reeves and Vasquez to tie the score at two.
Once again, the Spinners wasted little time retaking the lead. Mike Miller led off the inning with a single, stealing second before Marrero worked a walk. Miller was forced at third on a Kolbrin Vitek groundout, but Matt Gedman delivered a single to right-center, scoring Marrero, and a Davies groundout brought home Vitek to put the Spinners ahead, 4-2.
A lead-off walk once again caused problems for the Spinners in the fifth inning, as Stewart led off with a walk for the Tigers. Reaves delivered a ground rule double to left field, a ball that got stuck in the mess of Tiger relievers, stopping the runners at second and third. Vasquez brought home Stewart on a sacrifice fly and Aguasvivas scored Reaves on a sac fly of his own, tying the score at four.
The Tigers took the lead in the seventh with a leadoff walk again behind the trouble. Greg Larson walked Charlie Neil to lead off the inning. Stewart sacrificed him over to second and a double by Reaves brought him around to score, giving the Tigers a 5-4 lead.
Connecticut would add a pair of insurance runs in the ninth, capitalizing on a throwing error by Vitek, extending the lead to 7-4 for what would hold as the final score.
Marquis led the Spinners offense with a two hit night, including the home run, his first since joining the Spinners, while Gedman and Davies added RBI.
Jacob Dahlstrand started for the Spinners, allowing four runs on five hits and three walks in 4.2 innings, striking out two. Larson (0-1, 4.60) ran out of steam in the ninth, throwing four innings, allowing three runs, one earned, on four hits and two walks, striking out two. Kyle Kraus recorded the game's final out.
The Spinners and Tigers both head south, completing the home and home series with two in Norwich. Raynel Velette gets the ball Sunday as the Spinners look to stop the three-game losing streak, before returning home next Wednesday for a six-game stretch.