Tigers Fall in 2019 Opener at Lowell

Eliezer Alfonzo had a two-RBI single in the seventh inning, but it was not enough as the Connecticut Tigers (0-1) fall 6-3 in the 2019 season opener against the Lowell Spinners (1-0).
The Spinners got on the board first in the bottom half of the first and never trailed in the game. Carson Lance (Loss, 0-1) started for Connecticut. Lance went two innings with four strikeouts while surrendering two runs. Yusneil Padron (Win, 1-0) gave the Spinners six innings. He gave up three hits and struck out seven.
The Tigers got their first run of the game from Jordan Verdon on a Julio Martinez RBI single. Martinez capped off the contest going 3-for-4 with an RBI and run scored. Verdon went 1-for-3 with a walk, double and run scored.
Nick Northcut brought home two runs on a two-RBI double in the third to make it 3-1. Northcut went 3-for-4 with three doubles, two RBI and a run scored. The Spinners added two more runs to push the lead to 5-1.
Zac Shepherd was able to preserve the deficit heading to the seventh. Shepherd went one inning giving up one hit and striking out one in his first outing.
With the Tigers trailing 5-1 in the seventh, Connecticut rallied to load the bases. After the Alfonzo single, they stranded the bases loaded. Alfonzo finished 1-for-4 with 2 RBI.
In the eighth inning, the Tigers loaded the bases again, but left them stranded. Brendan Nail (Save, 1) came in with one out and got two-straight strikeouts to end the inning. Nail went 1.2 innings with four strikeouts and zero walks
Steve Pearce hit in the designated-hitter spot for the Lowell Spinners on a rehab assignment. The 2018 World Series MVP went 1-for-3 with a run scored and RBI.
The Connecticut Tigers will be back in action tomorrow in Lowell. First pitch is scheduled for 5:05 p.m. You can listen to all the action of tomorrow's game on the Norwich Courtyard by Marriott Connecticut Tigers Radio Network on 1310 WICH. Elijah Gonzalez will have the call with the pregame show starting at 4:45 p.m.
The Connecticut Tigers are the New York-Penn League affiliate of the Detroit Tigers at Dodd Stadium in Norwich, Connecticut. 2019 individual game tickets, season memberships for "The Club", mini plans, and team merchandise are on sale now! The 2019 season kicks off on Sunday, June 16^th as the Tigers take on the Vermont Lake Monsters (Oakland Athletics Affiliate) at Dodd Stadium at 7:05 pm. The front office and box office are open daily from 9 am to 5 pm Monday through Friday and can be accessed in person, online at www.cttigers.com, or by calling (860) 887-7962.