Spinning into defeat (Lowell 6, Tri-City 5)

The Tri-City Valleycats have yet to pick up a win over Stedler division leader Lowell this season, and sought to end that streak in the midst of the hottest weekend of the season Friday night at Bruno Stadium.

Unfortunately, a bad omen turned up once you picked up the lineup sheet posted at the fan service desk.

Jayson Schroder, easily one of the worst pitchers the 'Cats have, was given the start. This time, he didn't last very long. Schroeder walked the bases loaded in the visiting first, leading to a sacrifice fly by Jaxx Groshans to give Lowell a 1-0 lead. A potential double play grounder by Alex Erro was bobbled, allowing a second run to score. Nick Decker then walked to force home another run.

With two out, Ricardo Cubillan lined a base hit to center, plating Erro, but Decker was cut down on a one hop strike from center fielder Wilyer Abreu to catcher C. J. Stubbs to end the inning. By then, Schroder was gone, having been excused for a hastily scheduled piano lesson, and replaced with Edgardo Sandoval. Still, Lowell led, 4-0, going into the home half of the inning.

Tri-City came right back with two of their own to make things interesting. Back to back errors by the Lowell infield set up Nate Perry, who cashed the miscues with a double to center, making it 4-2 after one inning.

In the third, Groshans doubled to center, and came home, one out later, ahead of a two run homer by Decker, his fifth of the season, extending the lead to 6-2. However, Tri-City came right back with two more against Lowell starter Bryan Lucas. Stubbs opened the inning with a single, then moved to third on a double by Joe Perez. Stubbs came home on a sacrifice fly by Abreu, and then, Bryan Arias drove in Perez with a single to make it 6-4 after three.

Lucas went five innings, giving up the four runs, two earned, on five hits with three strikeouts and a walk. Schroeder's final line had him going two-thirds of an inning, giving up the four runs on one hit, one strikeout, and four walks. Sandoval went 4 1/3, giving up two runs on three hits with three strikeouts.

Blair Henley pitched three scoreless innings to keep the game close, giving up two hits, two walks, and a hit batsman, while fanning four.

Ryan Fernandez finished for Lowell, going the final four innings, allowing a run in the home eighth after a one out walk to Abreu, who came home via a ground out and two wild pitches, for the save, as Lowell continues to dominate the league, and Tri-City, with a 6-5 win.

The 'Cats begin a season-long six game road trip tonight in Vermont, followed by three in Brooklyn Tuesday-Thursday, before welcoming the Lake Monsters back to Bruno Stadium next Friday night.