July 18, 2019: Spinners Tame ValleyCats in Doubleheader Sweep

TROY, NY- The Tri-City ValleyCats were unable to overcome offense outbursts from the Lowell Spinners Thursday evening, dropping both games of a single admission doubleheader to kick off a three-game series between the Stedler Division rivals. The Spinners routed the 'Cats, 14-3, in game one before completing the sweep with a 6-4 victory in the nightcap at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium.
Looking to make up ground in the Stedler Division after entering the evening with the worst divisional mark in the league, the ValleyCats (12-19, 3-10) surrendered nine runs in the first three innings of the first contest, with losing pitcher Abdiel Saldana (0-1) allowing six earned runs across on eight hits in just two innings on the mound in a rehab start. 
Following a pair of no-decision innings from starter Ryan Zeferjahn, Lowell Spinners (22-9, 12-1) winning pitcher Miguel Suero (1-1) used run support behind him to get through the middle part of the seven-inning affair, allowing just a pair of unearned runs off three hits in three innings on. 
En-route to registering a season-high 14 runs off 16 hits, the Spinners saw five players register multi-hit affairs, with Kervin Suarez going 4-4 with a pair of runs scored and 2019 second round draft pick Cameron Cannon capping off a 3-4 night at the plate with five runs driven in. 
The 'Cats got a run back in the second off an RBI single from Bryan Arias and a pair in the fourth thanks to a sacrifice fly from Wilyer Abreu and an RBI single from Juan Paulino. Paulino would later make his debut on the mound in the contest, retiring all five batters he faced in the last 1.2 innings. 
Lowell used momentum from the landmark win to take an early lead in the second contest, doing so on the second at-bat of the game off an RBI double from Alex Erro. This time, the 'Cats would temporarily keep pace, knotting the contest at one off a balk that allowed Joe Perez to score in the home half of the third. 
The tie wouldn't last long, with the Spinners plating four runs off three hits in the top of the fourth to take a lead that they would never relinquish. Tri-City pushed three across to threaten in the bottom of the sixth, but stranded runners at second and third to end the inning.
Throwing as part of a rehab assignment from AAA Pawtucket, former major league arm Jeremy Bleich (1-0) picked up the win in two innings on the mound ,while Kris Jackson earned the save by striking out three in the final 1.2 innings of the contest. Manny Ramirez (0-1) was tagged with the loss for the 'Cats, allowing the first five runs to come across on three innings, despite striking out a season-high six batters in the process.
Following their second doubleheader sweep of the season at the hands of Lowell, the ValleyCats will look to salvage a piece of the three-game series on Friday, July 19. First pitch is set for 7:00 p.m. at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium.