Sports

Almanzar, Lowell bats come alive


Published: July 2, 2009

LOWELL — Hitting just .200 for the season, Michael Almanzar erupted, going 3 for 3 with three RBIs and scoring a run as Lowell pounded the Staten Island Yankees 11-0 last night.

Derrik Gibson continued his hot start in Lowell, scoring three runs and driving in another, his sixth RBI of the season, one off the team-high. Hot prospect Ryan Westmoreland also scored twice and Ronald Bermudez, Christopher McGuiness, Shannon Wilkerson and Chia-Chu Chen each chipped in with an RBI for the winners.

Starter Jose Alvarez allowed just three hits over six shutout innings, striking out two for his first win as a member of the Spinners. In three starts, he has a sharp 0.50 ERA.

Chad Povich followed with two innings of one-hit relief, and Anatanaer Batista finished off the night with a perfect ninth inning.

New Hampshire 5, Binghamton 3

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — David Cooper gave New Hampshire the lead with an RBI groundout, and the Fisher Cats would make it stand up on the way to downing Binghamton 5-3 last night.

Edgar Estanga (3-3) worked a season-high 31âÑ3 innings of scoreless relief to earn the win. He allowed one hit and struck out four batters.

Binghamton (29-48) opened the scoring in the bottom of the second inning, taking a 3-0 lead.

But back came the Fisher Cats (34-44) in the top of the fifth inning. Darin Mastroianni led off the inning with a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. He then stole third base and scored on a single to left field by Bryan Kervin. Todd Donovan and Adam Calderone followed with singles off losing pitcher Eric Brown (4-8).

With the bases loaded, Brian Dopirak doubled to center, driving in two runs to tie the game. David Cooper followed with an RBI groundout to put New Hampshire in front at 4-3. With the hit, Dopirak extended his season-high hit streak to 15 games, one short of the franchise record. New Hampshire added an insurance run in the top of the ninth inning on a Calderone single.

The series continues tonight, as Luis Perez (4-6, 3.41) starts for New Hampshire.