LOWELL, Massachusetts (Saturday, August 14, 2010) – Designated hitter Kolbrin Vitek went 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBI as the Lowell Spinners broke a two-game losing streak with a 4-3 win over the Mahoning Valley Scrappers (CLE) at LeLacheur Park. He also drove home the game-winning run on an eighth-inning single.
“I’m a lot more comfortable,” said Vitek, the Sox’ first round draft pick in June. “I know how the days go now…I got my feet wet and it’s just great to be here.”
Spinners starter Keith Couch got center fielder Carlos Moncrief and shortstop Nick Bartolone to groundout on the infield, but he allowed three singles and a walk, allowing the first Scrapper run to score. With two outs in the first inning, catcher Diego Seastrunk singled into shallow right-center field to score first baseman Chase Burnette.
The Spinners struck right back with one out in the bottom of the inning as designated hitter Kolbrin Vitek lined a solo home run just inside the left field line (7) to square the score at 1-1. First baseman Miles Head doubled into left field with two outs, but he was stranded at second base.
Mahoning Valley jumped back in front in the third on an RBI triple to the right field wall by designated hitter Tyler Cannon. He was gunned out at home for the second out when third baseman Randy Fontanez reached on a fielder’s choice. Vitek singled with two outs in the bottom of the frame for Lowell, but he was then quickly stranded as shortstop Jose Iglesias grounded back to the mound.
Couch retired the Scrappers 1-2-3 in the top of the fourth and fifth innings, while their starter Casey Gaynor did the same in the fourth. Gaynor struggled in the fifth by allowing two singles and a walk, but Iglesias flew out to shallow center to end the bases-loaded threat.
In the top of the sixth, Chez Angeloni replaced Keith Couch for the Spinners. Angeloni allowed a leadoff single to left fielder Brian Heere in the sixth, but he was stranded at third after a strikeout, groundout, and popout.
Couch was happy with his performance as he allowed six hits and two runs, while walking two and fanning two over five innings. “I felt good,” said the former Adelphi pitcher. “Thank goodness [the offense] helped me.”
Gaynor was also replaced in the sixth to make way for Kyle Smith. He out dueled Couch as he allowed five hits and a run over his five innings, while walking just one and fanning three.
The Spinners greeted Smith rudely as second baseman Joantoni Garcia hit a two-run double to center with two out, scoring the go-ahead runs in left fielder Brandon Jacobs and catcher Chia-Chu Chen. He skimmed center fielder Felix Sanchez across the uniform and then struck out Vitek with the bases loaded to end the inning.
Wilson Matos replaced Angeloni with two outs in the top of the seventh and he surrendered a pop out by right fielder Kevin Rucker to end the frame. In the bottom of the seventh, Iglesias singled against J.D. Goryl, but was cut down on a fielder’s choice by Chen to end the threat.
Seastrunk and Heere singled to leadoff the eighth inning against Matos and scored on a sacrifice fly by Fontanez. Heere was doubled out at third on the relay throw from Peterson.
J.D. Reichenbach came in for the eighth inning and allowed a single to replacement right fielder Bryce Brentz, as well as walks to Garcia and Sanchez. Vitek came through again with one out as he singled on a ground ball into right field to score Brentz. Garcia was cut down at home on a fielder’s choice to right field by replacement shortstop James Kang. Head grounded into a 5-4 fielder’s choice to end the inning with just one run scored.
Michael Hacker came in to close the game for the Spinners and retired the 9-1-2 batters for the Scrappers in succession to earn his second save of the season.
Despite strong outings from both starters neither earned the decision. Matos pitched 1.1 innings and allowed two hits and a run to improve to 1-4. Reichenbach took the loss and fell to 1-2. He allowed two hits and a run over the eighth inning, while walking two.
The Spinners had been struggling and are starting to show some promise in terms of results with three wins in five games. “We just need to keep putting together good games,” Vitek said. “We’re in every game. Even the ones we lose are close. We’re going to keep battling and striving forward.”
Lowell and Mahoning Valley return to action in the final game before the All-Star Break. Madison Younginer and Cole Cook will toe the rubber for their respective teams at 1:35 on Sunday.
