Saturday, August 09, 2003 - LOWELL The midseason run toward the top of the Stedler Division standings the Lowell Spinners
began late last month is gaining speed.
Lowell has played some of its best baseball of the summer in recent weeks, winning 10 of its last 12 games since July 26.
The Spinners swept past the Tri-City ValleyCats, 8-2, 2-0, in a pair of seven-inning games at LeLacheur Park last night.
By sweeping the doubleheader, Lowell (29-21) moved into second place in the New York-Penn League's Stedler Division, a game ahead of Tri-City (28-22). Oneonta
(32-19) currently holds down the top spot in the Stedler.
Former Chicago Cubs great Ernie Banks would love to play for the Spinners. Last night's twinbill was Lowell's third of the week. The Spinners swept a
doubleheader from Oneonta on Wednesday, and split a pair of games against Vermont on Monday.
In the second game, Lowell scored both of its runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Jeremy West drew a leadoff walk and went to second on Claudio Arias's base hit. Kevin "Scooter" Jordan pinch ran for West. Jordan and Arias moved up
to second and third after an errant pickoff throw by ValleyCat reliever Mike Collar (1-3), who took the loss.
After Brandon Moss flew out to shallow center, Melvin Reyes lined a two-run double to right center.
Jose Vaquedano (6-1) only allowed 3 hits and struck out 8 to earn the win on the mound for Lowell. Vaquedano's six victories ties him with Thomas Mastny of
Auburn for the most wins in the NY-PL.
Brian Marshall pitched the seventh to earn his third save.
Lowell had a couple of scoring chances in the early innings of Game 2.
The Spinners had runners on first and second with one down in the first and failed to score.
In the third, Lowell loaded the bases and ValleyCat pitcher Joey DeLeon got out of the jam by getting Arias to line out to second base.
Tri-City stranded a pair of runners in the first and third innings.
Wes Anderson was Lowell's starting pitcher in the second game and pitched a scoreless first inning.
In the opening game, Lowell got off to a fast start, scoring five runs on five hits in the first.
Matt Murton, West and Moss had run-scoring hits in the first, while Arias knocked in a run with a sacrifice fly.
The Spinners upped their lead to 8-1 with three runs in the third. Jim Buckley knocked in a pair of runs with his second double of the game.
Buckley scored Lowell's final run of the opener on Jason Ramos's sacrifice fly.
Murton, West and Buckley had two hits each in Game 1.
Jarrett Gardner picked up the win for Lowell, improving his record to 5-1. Gardner, a right-hander from the University of Arkansas, came on in relief of
starting pitcher Jonathan Papelbon, and limited Tri-City to three hits and a run while striking out two in four innings.
Gardner hasn't allowed a walk in 41 innings of work for Lowell this summer.
Papelbon allowed a run on two hits in the first, but settled down nicely, retiring seven of the final eight batters he faced.
Tri-City starter Josh Hirsh took the loss, allowing eight runs (7 earned) in 2 1/3 innings.
The electrical power went out at LeLacheur Park for a brief time early in Game 1. According to Spinner officials, the loss of power was due to a main breaker
that tripped. Massachusetts Electric was called in and repaired the problem by resetting the breaker.
