TROY, N.Y. The Tri-City ValleyCats swept past the Lowell Spinners, 3-0, 2-1, in a pair of seven-inning games during a New York-Penn League doubleheader at Joseph Bruno Stadium last night.

ValleyCat pitchers limited Lowell to only four total hits for the twinbill. In the opening game, the Spinners only had one hit. In the second game, Tri-City scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventh.

The twin losses dealt a severe blow to Lowell's chances of making the NY-Penn playoffs.

Lowell (32-27) now trails first place Oneonta (36-24) by 3 1/2 games and second place Tri-City (35-26) by 2 games in the Stedler Division standings. The Spinners trail wild-card leader Williamsport by 5 games with just 15 remaining.

Mike Walls reached on an error, went to second on a sacrifice bunt and scored the winning run on Pat O'Brien's single to left. O'Brien had doubled and scored the ValleyCats' first run on Edwin Maysonet's double in the third.

The Spinners' took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first as Zach Borowiak doubled, stole third and scored on Jeremy West's base hit.

Borowiak paced Lowell's offense with a pair of hits.

Reliever Brian Marshall (0-1) took the loss for Lowell, which has dropped six of its last eight games.

In the opening game, Tri-Valley pitchers Jason Hirsch (2-1) and Mike Collar (3 saves) combined on a 1-hit shutout.

Hirsch earned the win, allowing only 1 hit and 2 walks while striking out 6 in 5 innings.

Josh Anderson tripled and knocked in 2 runs for Tri-City.

Spinner starting pitcher Arthur Santos (2-3) took the loss. Santos gave up 6 hits and 3 runs in 4 innings.

Brett Bonvechio had Lowell's lone hit in the first game.

Lowell is scheduled to play at Tri-City again tonight at 7:00.