STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Ryan Lavarnway took the first pitch he saw yesterday afternoon over the left-field wall for a grand slam to give the Lowell Spinners a lead they would not relinquish en route to a 6-3 victory over the Staten Island Yankees.
It was the Spinners' fourth consecutive win and their 11th win in their last 12 games.
The win lowered the Spinners magic number to claim the Stedler Division title and the franchise's first-ever playoff berth to five games. After losing the first game of the season to the Yankees, the minor league affiliate of the dreaded "Evil Empire," the Spinners have now won four straight over the Baby Bombers.
For the second consecutive game, Lowell (36-26) was able to jump out to an early lead on the first home run of Lavarnway's professional career.
Staten Island (40-24), who entered the day with the league's best record, winners of 9 of 10 games, was able to get on the board in the third inning, on back-to-back hits by David Adams and Brad Baisley, but could muster little else against Spinners starter Hunter Strickland.
The Spinners were able to get the run right back in the top of the sixth inning, when Luis Sumoza took an offering from Bedford, N.H. native Nick Asselin over the right field wall for his 11th home run of the season, one short of the Spinners team record (12) set by Carlos Rodriguez in 1999, to give the Spinners a 5-1 lead.
Hunter Strickland (5-3, 3.75 ERA) struck out six through five innings, allowing just one run on five hits.
Lowell goes for a three-game sweep of the Baby Bombers today in another afternoon affair. Yeiper Castillo (3-4, 3.83) gets the ball for a 1 p.m. first pitch.
Surf sweeps Pride
The Nashua Pride were taken for two games by the Atlantic City Surf, 6-0 and 4-1, in a doubleheader at Holman Stadium last night.
Surf starting pitchers Brian Rodaway (10-8) and J.C. Huguet (9-7) each earned wins and collected eight strikeouts in their outings.
Atlantic City shortstop Anthony Granato was a perfect 5 for 5 in the doubleheader combined, belting two home runs in game one, and finishing with three RBIs.
Nashua received its lone run of the twin bill on a solo home run in game two by catcher Mike Torres, who belted his fourth homer of the year with the Pride.
The Pride and Surf will meet again today, at 7:05 p.m., when Nashua sends Lance Stevens (6-7) to the mound against Atlantic City's Adam Cox (7-2).
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