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Tri-City wastes comeback effort
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By: Rich Fyle , The Record
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08/01/2003
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TROY - Josh Anderson admitted he made a mistake in the second inning.
But he wasn't the only Tri-City ValleyCat who did not bring their 'A' game to the table in Thursday's New York-Penn League contest before 3,133 at Joseph L.
Bruno Stadium.
There were plenty of 'Cats hitters and pitchers who would like to replay the 9-7 loss to Lowell.
Tri-City wiped out a six-run deficit in the fourth inning - the greatest comeback in its 117-game history - with a team record-tying six runs in the frame.
But Lowell got a tiebreaking, two-run home run from Robert Evans in the sixth to stay ahead for good.
"I thought that once we got all those runs, it would drain (Lowell) for the rest of the game, but it didn't," said Anderson, whose two-run triple
highlighted the fourth.
After Lowell starter Beau Vaughn walked three batters in the second inning, Anderson, the 'Cats leadoff man, swung at the first pitch and lined out to left
field for the final out to keep the contest scoreless.
Lowell then struck for three runs in the top of the third.
"Maybe we were too aggressive and the results didn't show," Anderson said. "I've got to be a little more patient at the plate, especially after
a pitcher had already walked three batters in an inning."
A day after Tri-City pitchers did not issue a walk, 'Cats hurlers issued 11 walks - the ninth time in 42 games that pitchers have walked eight or more in a
game.
Lowell (23-20) scored in four innings and each time the leadoff man reached base via a walk.
"It was a strange game," said 'Cats manager Ivan DeJesus, whose team fell to 24-18 and was outhit 8-4. "We made this game difficult for
ourselves with the walks."
The 'Cats were shut down in the final five innings by Lowell relievers Jose Vaquedano (5-1), Kevin Ool and
Brian Marshall, who earned his second save.
Tri-City sent 11 batters to the plate in the fourth and tied the game with the aid of two walks and two Spinners' errors by before Vaquedano closed the door.
"Vaquedano is a good pitcher and we struggled with him in the past," DeJesus said. "I think tonight was a case in which too many guys showed up
and did not have their full concentration."
"It's disappointing because when you get six runs in an inning you want more later on," Anderson said.
Tri-City starter Derick Grigsby struggled again, lasting three-plus innings and allowing six runs and four walks. The 2002 Houston Astros' first-round draft
choice has only one win in his last five starts.
After reliever Jonathan Beltre (1-1) walked leadoff man Kevin Jordan in the sixth, Evans blasted his third home run of the season to right field, giving the
Spinners an 8-6 lead. Beltre now has surrendered a team-high five homers in 26¤ innings.
"That's definitely a concern," DeJesus said. "Jonathan has got good stuff, but he's got to keep the ball in the ballpark."
'Cats third baseman Brock Koman (2-for-5) had a double in the seventh and later scored on an Adam Seuss groundout. But Koman - who now has a league high-tying
17 doubles - was the only 'Cat to reach base in the final five innings.
"We had momentum going with the big inning, then it stopped," Anderson said.
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ŠThe Record 2003
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