Friday, August 1, 2003

Spinners capture wild win

TROY, N.Y. -- A Tri-City rally from a six-run deficit went for naught as the visiting Spinners pulled out the 9-7 victory before 3,133 fans at Bruno Stadium.

The ValleyCats' pitchers did themselves no favors by walking eight including the leadoff batter in five different innings.

Trailing 6-0 in the fourth, the hosts used a two-run triple by Josh Anderson and RBI singles by Scott Robinson and Beau Hearod to knot the game at 6-6.

But Spinners center fielder Robert Evans belted what proved to be the game-winning two-run homer in the sixth.

Lowell pitcher Jose Vaquenado, who gave up three runs, just one earned in 32/3 innings, improved to 5-1 while Brian Marshall recorded his second save. Besides Vaquenado, none of the other four Spinner hurlers yielded a hit, including starter Beau Vaughan, who went the first three innings.

Wednesday's hero, Jeff Mackor of Salem, N.H., didn't play last night for the ValleyCats.

Lowell (23-20) is at Tri-City (24-18) tonight at 7 p.m. for the rubber game of the series.

Spirit Can't Catch Ambassadors

LYNN -- The North Shore Spirit lost to the Allentown Ambassadors 5-4 yesterday afternoon before a crowd of 1,298 at Fraser Field.

John Kelly (9-2) suffered his second loss of the season for the Spirit. Kelly pitched six full innings, giving up seven hits and five runs and striking out four.

Nolan Fry (4-4) notched the win for Allentown, despite allowing nine hits in five innings.

The Ambassadors jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning.

Center fielder John Schmitz had a solo home run in the first to put the Spirit on the board. In the second inning, Jason Startari singled and was waved home on a Billy Malone double to bring the Spirit within two.

The Ambassadors struck again in the fifth inning but North Shore's Carlos Sepulveda retaliated in the bottom of the frame with a solo homer, making the score 5-3. The Spirit scored an additional run in the seventh after a John Schmitz walk, Frank Charles double and Fran Riordan ground out RBI, but the Ambassadors held onto the lead for the remainder of the game.

Jeremy Sugarman (3-1) will take the mound for the Spirit today and will face Allentown's fearsome John Dillinger (5-4).

Bluefish blank Pride

NASHUA, N.H. -- The Bridgeport Bluefish dominated the Nashua Pride from start to finish tonight, earning a 4-0 win in front of 1,923 fans at Holman Stadium. The Pride were held to two hits on the evening.

Bridgeport took the lead on a lead-off solo HR to left by Willis Otanez in the top of the second. By the end of the fourth, the 'Fish enjoyed a 3-0 lead over the Pride and starter Carlos Chantres.

Nashua's frustration over their second half struggles was evident in the bottom of the seventh. After Glenn Murray was called out on strikes for the third time in the contest, Murray dropped his bat and helmet near the batters box as he walked back to the dugout and was ejected from the contest.