Struggling Spinners Look to Lowrie for Spark

by Joseph Kuykendall

LOWELL, Mass.— After two consecutive division titles (the only two in franchise history) in the past two years, the Lowell Spinners have hit a road-bump to start their 2010 campaign. Going into their series opener against the Jamestown Jammers on Thursday night, the Spinners’ posted an ugly 5-14 record. It is the worst in the Stedler Division, all of the New York-Penn League, and worst start in Franchise History.

Jed Lowrie (pictured), who is recovering from mono, was sent to Lowell for a rehab assignment. Lowrie was a previous member of the Lowell Spinners in 2005, and had a rehab stint with them last season.
Coming in to Thursday Night’s game against the Jamestown Jammers, the Spinners looked to break their current two-game losing streak.

Although the Jammers jumped out to an early two-run lead in the second inning, the Spinners bounced back with two runs of their own in the third inning to even the score at two.

Both teams each scored a run in the fifth inning. The Spinners’ lone run in the fifth inning came via a RBI Single off the bat of Jed Lowrie. It ended up being his last at-bat as he was pinch-hit for in the following inning by Joantoni Garcia.

Lowrie’s final stats for the game were 1-for-2, with one walk, one single, and one RBI.
Although both teams again exchanged a run again in the sixth inning, the Jammers had the last laugh with a lead-off home-run in the eighth inning from their right-fielder Marcell Ozuna.

It seemed as if the Spinners would have one last glimmer of hope when the New York-Penn League home run leader Sean Killeen pinch-hit for Joantoni Garcia in the bottom of the ninth but he ended up striking out.

In the end, the Spinners lost their tight bout with the Jamestown Jammers 5-4 and sent their losing streak to 3 games and now have an overall record of 5-15.

The Spinners look to rebound during tomorrow’s game and Saturday’s game. Saturday’s game is part of the Futures at Fenway. Both games are also against the Jamestown Jammers.