KCT Baseball Game Preview: Tri-City at Lowell

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Tonight the Lowell Spinners host the Tri-City ValleyCats (HOU) in the opener of a three-game New York-Penn League series at LeLacheur Park. Last night, Lowell swept Staten Island out of Lowell with a 6-3 win, while Tri-City topped Hudson Valley, 5-4, in 14 innings.

Last night’s win was Lowell’s fourth in a row, their longest winning streak by far this season. Tri-City has won two of three, but dropped four of six.

In the Stedler Division, Vermont (WSH) has a half-game lead on the 34-34 ValleyCats. Tri-City has a half-game lead over third-place Connecticut (DET), while the Spinners bring up the rear at 23-45 and 11.5 games out.  

Madison Younginer takes the ball for Bruce Crabbe and the Spinners, while the Tri-City starter will be minor league veteran David Martinez. Younginer is 3-6 with a 4.74 ERA in 13 starts for the Spinners this season as he took the loss in his last start on Thursday at Staten Island. He allowed four hits and three runs (two earned) over 4.1 innings in the second game of a doubleheader. He took a no-decision in his only start against Tri-City this season, a five-inning effort in Troy on July 30. Martinez has a solid 4-2 record and 2.78 ERA in 15 games (eight starts) for the ValleyCats. On Thursday, he allowed seven hits and three runs (two earned) over seven innings in a no-decision on the road against Hudson Valley. He allowed two hits in a win in Lowell on June 21, while he suffered the loss a week later at Bruno Stadium.

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KCT Baseball Game Preview: Staten Island at Lowell

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Tonight the Lowell Spinners host the Staten Island Yankees (NYY) in the finale of a six-game New York-Penn League series at LeLacheur Park. The teams played three games at Richmond County Bank Ballpark and now conclude the series with the third game in Lowell.

The Spinners won their third straight game, 7-6, last night, thanks to a 3-for-4 night from left fielder Brandon Jacobs. Jacobs scored a run and drove in a pair, including a sixth-inning solo home run.

Lowell stands at 22-45, 11.5 games behind first-place Connecticut (DET) and Vermont (WSH), who both stand at an even .500. Tri-City (HOU) trails the Tigers and Lake Monsters by a half-game in the Stedler. The Yanks bring up the rear in the McNamara with a 30-34 record, which trails third-place Aberdeen (BAL) by a half-game and second-place Hudson Valley (TB) by three games in the division.

Keith Couch takes the ball for Bruce Crabbe and the Spinners, while Dustin Hobbs makes his short-season debut for the Yankees. Couch is 1-5 with a 4.74 ERA in 12 apperances (nine starts) for the Spinners this season and is no stranger to Lowell after three seasons for Adelphi University, who plays in the Northeast-10 with UMASS-Lowell. He made his last start against the Yankees on Thursday, allowing four hits and two runs over three innings for the loss. Hobbs started the season with the GCL Yankees, where he posted a solid 3-1 record and 2.30 ERA over seven starts. In his last start on August 21, he allowed just a run on five hits over five innings for the win against the GCL Tigers in Tampa.

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KCT Baseball Game Preview: Portland at New Hampshire

Lineups

Tonight the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (TOR) host the Portland Sea Dogs in the third game of a four-game Eastern League series at Merchantsauto.com Stadium. The Fisher Cats hold a 7-6 advantage in the season series, which concludes next week. The ‘Dogs evened the series with a 5-1 win last night, thanks in large part to a three-run home run by designated hitter Ryan Lavarnway in the sixth inning.

New Hampshire is just 1.5 games behind Trenton (NYY) for the Eastern Division lead with a 75-56 record. With a win tonight, the Fisher Cats can clinch their playoff spot and win at least the Wild Card title. Portland is out of the playoff race with a 62-69 record, fifth place in the division and 14.5 games back. They trail fourth-place Binghamton (NYM) by a half-game and third-place Reading by 2.5 games in the standings.

Eastern League Pitcher of the Year Kyle Drabek makes the start tonight for the Fisher Cats. He is 14-9 with a 2.98 ERA in 25 starts this season and is just two wins away from tying the franchise record for wins in a single-season. The initial record was set in 2004 by Gustavo Chacin. It is worth noting that he pitched the only no-hitter in the Eastern League this season on July 4 against New Britian.

Blake Maxwell will take the hill for the Sea Dogs tonight, with a perfect 5-0 record and 2.19 ERA in nine apperances (five starts) at Double-A. He began the season as a reliever at Advanced-A Salem (4-1, 2.66 in 24 games), while also throwing seven innings at Triple-A Pawtucket.  

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Oldtime Baseball Game set for tonight

Players will be wearing old-time uniforms that were donated by Rick Stoddard of Methuen's Injured Workers Pharmacy.

Tonight we will head down to Cambridge for 17th Annual Injured Workers Pharmacy Oldtime Baseball Game at St. Peter’s Field. The event is spearheaded by Boston Herald writer Steve Buckley. The game was originally scheduled for Wednesday, but poor weather delayed the event.

This year’s game is being played as a fundraiser for the The Marley Jaye Cherella Memorial Fund, which is dedicated to supporting research into Sudden Infant Death Syndrome being done at Boston Children’s Hospital. Marley Jaye Cherella was just five months old when she died of SIDS in 2008. The goal of the Marley Jaye Cherella Fund is to one day eliminate the tragedy of SIDS and guarantee that every baby has a chance to survive and thrive.

A pregame ceremony will be held in memory of the late Greg Montalbano, a former Red Sox minor-league pitcher who was only 31 when he died of cancer last summer. A native of Westborough and later a standout at Northeastern University, Montalbano was a participant in the Oldtime Baseball Game in 1997 and ’98. The first Greg Montalbano Alumni Award will be presented to a former participant in the Oldtime Baseball Game who best exemplifies Greg’s spirit, competiveness and good nature.

Lou Merloni, Bill Monbouquette and Mike Pagliarulo, who played a combined 31 seasons in the major leagues, will participate in the event this year. Merloni, a native of Framingham who will be playing in his third Oldtime Baseball Game, enjoyed his best season in 2000, hitting .320 in 128 at-bats. He was also Boston’s starting shortstop in Game 3 of the 1999 Division Series, going 2-for-3 and driving in a run. Monbouquette and Pagliarulo, who have been named managers of this year’s game, are natives of Medford. Monbouquette won 114 games during his 11 seasons in the majors, including a 20-10 record for the Red Sox in 1963. He also threw a no-hitter in 1962. Pagliarulo played most of his 11-year career with the New York Yankees, hitting 32 home runs in 1987, but he was a key member of the Minnesota Twins’ World Series championship team in 1991.

Most of the players are local collegians, while a few Boston sports media members will be playing to support the cause. All of the players will be wearing old-time uniforms that were donated by Rick Stoddard of Methuen’s Injured Workers Pharmacy.

Admission to the Oldtime Baseball Game at St. Peter’s Field is free. St. Peter’s Field is located on Sherman Street in North Cambridge, not far from the Fresh Pond Traffic Circle. Fans are asked to bring a beach blanket or chair and camp out along the foul lines. We hope to see you there for what will be a great night for a great cause!

KCT Baseball Game Preview: Hudson Valley at Lowell

Lineups

Tonight the Lowell Spinners host the Hudson Valley Renegades (TB) in the opening game of a three-game New York-Penn League series at LeLacheur Park. This is the opening game of the season series as well. The Spinners and Renegades fell in tight extra-inning affairs, 10-9 at Vermont (WSH) in 11 innings and 3-2 at Aberdeen (BAL) in 10.

The Spinners are off to a 17-41 start, 11.5 games behind third-place Connecticut (DET) in the Stedler Division. The Renegades are third in the McNamara Division at 28-29, ten games behind first-place Brooklyn (NYM) and one game ahead of fourth-place Staten Island (NYY).

Madison Younginer will start for the Spinners, while the ‘Gades starter is TBD. Younginer is 3-5 with a 4.99 ERA over 11 starts. He allowed four hits and three runs (one earned) over five innings in a n0-decision on Sunday against Mahoning Valley (CLE). He has one win and three no-decisions in his last four starts, with the only decision coming August 10 against State College (PIT).

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KCT Baseball Game Preview: Mahoning Valley at Lowell

Lineups

Tonight the Lowell Spinners host the Mahoning Valley Scrappers (CLE) in the middle game of a three-game New York-Penn League series at LeLacheur Park. The Spinners rallied in the ninth inning on Friday night, but stranded the bases loaded in a 3-2 loss in the season series opener.

The Spinners are off to their worst start in franchise history at 15-39, 11 games behind third-place Tri-City (HOU) in the Stedler Division. The Scrappers are fifth in the Pinckney Division at 23-32, ten games behind first-place Williamsport (PHI) and one game ahead of sixth-place Auburn (TOR).

It will be a battle of first-year professionals tonight as Keith Couch makes the start for Lowell, while Casey Gaynor toes the rubber for Mahoning Valley. Couch is 1-4 with a 3.35 ERA in nine apperances (six starts) for the Spinners this season and is no stranger to Lowell after three seasons for Adelphi University, who plays in the Northeast-10 with UMASS-Lowell. Gaynor is a Cape Cod product and was signed after the 2010 Draft out of Rutgers. He is 4-2 with a 4.25 ERA over 12 appearances and has been used as a primary reliever.

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RIP Edward A. LeLacheur, 1925-2010

KCT Baseball Game Preview: Danbury at North Shore, NECBL Championship Game 3

Tonight the North Shore Navigators face the Danbury Westerners in the deciding game three of the best-of-three NECBL Championship Series on Tuesday evening at Fraser Field. The Westerners won both regular season meetings on July 1 and 26, but this series is tied at 1-1.

The Navs finished the season at 25-17, while the Westerners finished one game worse at 24-18. Both teams are 5-3 currently on the postseason.

Nolan Corr (0-1/Wheaton) will be the starter for the Navs, while Mike Anarumo (0-1/LeMoyne) makes the start for Danbury. Corr was the losing pitcher of the Navs’ 5-4 loss to Newport on Thursday night, allowing five hits and three earned runs in five innings. Anarumo threw three innings and allowed three runs and three hits over a pair of appearances against the Navs this season. He suffered the loss in the opening game of the Western Division Championship against North Adams.

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KCT Baseball Game Preview: Danbury at North Shore, NECBL Championship Game 1

Tonight the North Shore Navigators and Danbury Westerners open the best-of-three NECBL Championship Series on Sunday evening at Fraser Field. The Westerners won both regular season meetings on July 1 and 26.

The Navs finished the season at 25-17, while the Westerners finished one game worse at 24-18. Both teams are 4-2 on the postseason.

Kevin Kyle (0-1/Clemson) will be the starter for the Navs, while Kevin Kilpatrick (1-0/St. John’s) makes the start for Danbury. Kyle was the losing pitcher of the Navs’ 5-1 loss to Sanford on Tuesday night, allowing five hits and four runs in six innings. Kilpatrick allowed just two hits over six innings in a 4-3 win at Fraser Field on July 1. He earned the win in a 5-3 win over Bristol on Tuesday, allowing three unearned runs and three hits over 7.1 innings.

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KCT Baseball Game Preview: North Shore at Newport, East Division Finals Game 3

Tonight the North Shore Navigators travel down to Cardines Field for the decisive third game of the East Division Championship Series against the Newport Gulls. The current best-of-three series is tied at 1-1, while the Gulls won the regular season series, 4-2.

The Navs finished the season at 25-17, good for second place in the Eastern Division, two games behind the top-seeded Gulls at 27-15.

Crayton Bare (1-0/Baylor) will be the starter for the Navs, while Geoff Brown (0-0/Washington) makes the start for the Gulls. Bare, who was 3-1 during the regular season, allowed just two hits in a five-inning no-decision against Newport on June 13. Brown, who was a perfect 3-0 during the season, threw a complete-game four-hitter at Fraser Field on July 31.

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KCT Baseball Game Preview: Newport at North Shore, East Division Finals Game 2

Tonight the North Shore Navigators face the Newport Gulls in the second game of the Division championship series at Fraser Field. The Gulls lead the best-of-three series, 1-0, while the Gulls won the regular season series, 4-2.

The Navs finished the season at 25-17, good for second place in the Eastern Division, two games behind the top-seeded Gulls at 27-15.

Michael Johnson (0-0/Dartmouth) will be the starter for the Navs, while Eric Eadington (0-0/Harvard) makes the start for the Gulls. Johnson, who was 1-3 during the regular season, allowed just a run and two hits over five innings against the Gulls in the regular season finale on July 31. Eadington, who was 1-0 during the season, threw two innings against the Navs on June 30.

Get a quick lodown of everything you need to know for the game with this quick audio podcast.