Tagged: Michael Almanzar
Spinners Are Your 2009 Stedler Division Champions
The Spinners clinched their second consecutive Stedler division title last night with a 13-0 thrashing of second place Oneonta. The Spinners have won 11 of their last 14 games and have opened up a 7.5 game lead on Oneonta since entering play on August 22nd tied with the Tigers for first place.
Starter Jose Alvarez (8-3, 1.52) threw a complete game shutout, only allowing five hits and striking out six over his seven innings of work. With the win, Alvarez broke the Spinners record for victories in a season with 8. He also remains atop of the NY-Penn League in ERA (1.52).
Your 2009 Lowell Spinners, Stedler Division Champions
The Spinners wasted no time opening up an early lead by scoring six times in the first and five times in the second on their way to an 18 hit output on the night. Every starter had at least one hit, led by Derrik Gibson’s perfect night at the plate. He was 3 for 3 with two walks, reaching base five times. Gibson, in his last four games, is hitting a blistering .667. Chris McGuiness and Ken Roque each had three hits and Michael Almanzar added a double, triple and three RBI’s.
The Spinners also won game two of the twinbill 6-2 as Willie Holmes was 3-3 with a HR and Wilfred Pichardo stole three bases in breaking the Spinners single season record for stolen bases. Pichardo now stands at 31, the record was previously 28, set by Matt Van Der Bosch in 2004. Carson Blair and Doug Wogee made thier Spinner debuts, with Blair going 1 for 2 with a double and Wogee pitching a scoreless inning in relief. Spinners starter Alex Wilson was again dominant in his three inning stint, striking out three and only allowing one hit. The Spinners look to continue their hot streak with the final game of the series tonight in Oneonta. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05.
Spinners Shoot Down Ironbirds 8-2
Last night the Spinners defeated the Aberdeen Ironbirds 8-2, and increased their division lead to 2.5 games with Oneonta’s loss. The Spinners had big nights from Derrik Gibson (SB, 2 R) and Ryan Westmoreland (3-5, 2B, RBI, 2 SB) on their way to the win.
Michael Almanzar's double opened up a close game in the ninth in the Spinners 8-2 victory last night
For Gibson, his stolen base was his 25th, moving him within three of the club record. The Spinners opened up a close game in the ninth when Michael Almanzar knocked in two with a bases-loaded double. Willie Holmes and Ronald Bermudez knocked in the other runs with a single and a sacrifice fly, respectively. The Spinners offense is on a roll, except for last nights game, the team is hitting .341 in their last five victories.
The Spinners look to take the series tonight in Aberdeen when they send Drake Britton to the mound, in his 2009 Spinners debut, at 7:05. Britton will be followed by Ryan Pressly.
Spinners Tame Tigers, Alvarez Ties Record
Jose Alvarez picked up his seventh win in yesterday's 12-2 pasting of Oneonta, tying a Spinners franchise record for wins in a season
The Lowell Spinners are rolling, their latest victim was their division foe the Oneonta Tigers. The first five Spinners reached base in yesterday’s game and chased Tigers starter Jose Diaz before he even recorded an out.
The Spinners scored four in the first on an RBI single by Ryan Westmoreland, an RBI double by Michael Almanzar, an RBI single by Joantoni Garcia and a sacrifice fly by Dan Butler. Almanzar addd an RBI single in the second and Drew Hedman’s RBI groundout extended the lead to 7-0.
The Tigers rough day continued in the third, as Michael Rockett and hitting coach Luis Quinones were ejected for arguing balls and strikes and Westmoreland added an RBI double to extened the Spinners lead to 9-0.
Spinners starter Jose Alvarez continued his dazzling season with another stellar performance, pitching six innings, allowing only two hits and striking out eight. He earned his seventh win of the season, tying the Spinners franchise record for wins in a season. Chez Angeloni followed with two innings in relief before Dennis Neuman pitched a scoreless ninth inning.
Wilfred Pichardo was 2 for 3 as the leadoff hitter, extending his hitting streak to nine games and raising his batting average to .303. The Spinners now lead the Stedler division by two games over Oneonta and open a three game series vs. Aberdeen tonight at 7:05. Pedro Perez (1-4, 3.08), takes the mound in game one.
Lake Monsters Drown Spinners 5-2, Westmoreland Stays Hot
The Vermont Lake Monsters downed the Spinners 5-2, Thursday night during a damp and frustrating night for the Spinners. Starter Cesar Cabral pitched the first inning and came out of the game due to an injury sustained on Adam Amar’s shot off his leg. Once again the Spinners defense plagued them as they committed four errors on the night. These errors all either directly or indirectly led to the five Lake Monster runs. 
The Spinners got on the board in the 4th as Derrik Gibson walked, and streaking Ryan Westmoreland singled, to move Gibson to 2nd. With Michael Almanzar batting, a double steal was pulled off by Gibson and Westmoreland, with Gibson scoring on an errant throw by Vermont catcher Sandy Leon. The Spinners would conclude their scoring when Westmoreland cracked his 5th home run of the season deep over the right field fence in the sixth inning. For Westmoreland, he has now hit three homeruns in his last four games, and has an OPS of 1.018 for July.
Justin Masterson took in the game on his bobblehead night, throwing out the first pitch. We would like to thank Justin for always remembering his friends here in Lowell.
The Spinners look to split this short two game series with the Lake Monsters tommorow at 7:05 as Ryan Pressly looks to bounce back from two rough starts in a row and pick up his fourth win on the year.
McGuiness, Westmoreland Down State College 5-1
A day after getting nipped by State College 1-0, The Spinners managed to win 5-1 Wednesday afternoon to take two out of three from the Spikes. Rehabbing Kason Gabbard, pitched the first three innings allowing one run on five hits. Jose Alvarez followed Gabbard and picked up his fourth win, going six shutout innings to lower his ERA to 1.35, good for 6th in the NY Penn League. The Spinners took an early 2-0 advantage in the top of the second inning when Chris McGuiness lead off with his 9th double of the season. McGuiness, with his double, set a Spinners club record for most consecutive games with an extra base hit, six. Ronald Bermudez knocked in McGuiness with a two out single, and would eventually come into score on an error by Spikes shortstop Andy Vazquez.
Chris McGuiness set a club record of six consecutive games with an extra base hit after leading off the second inning of the Spinners July 22 game with a double.
State College responded quickly in the bottom of the second with a leadoff double by Butch Biela, part of three consecutive Spike hits. The rally was short lived, however, due to Shannon Wilkerson gunning out Miguel Mendez at second, trying to advance on Andy Vazquez’s RBI single. The Spikes were done in by their inability to capitalize with runners on base, hitting into four double plays.
In the 6th, the Spinners widened their lead 4-1 on four consecutive hits by Michael Almanzar, Wilkerson, Bermudez and Sean Killeen. The scoring was capped off by Ryan Westmoreland, who hit his fourth homerun of the season, his second of the series, in the top of the 7th. The Spinners return home for a brief two-game series against the Vermont Lake Monsters beginning Thursday Night at LeLacheur Park. It is Justin Masterson Bobble Head Night, sponsored by Collins Dentistry for Children, and Masterson will be in attendance. LHP Cesar Cabral (0-4, 3.99) gets the start for a 7:05 first pitch.
Spinners Split Doubleheader in Vermont
Due to a rainout of Saturday’s game, the Spinners played two yesterday in Vermont.
In the first game the Spinners won 4-0, and Jose Alvarez pitched six scoreless innings, allowing only three hits for the win. Michael Almanzar and Ryan Westmoreland led the offense for the Spinners as both had multi-hit games.
In the second game the Spinners were stymied by Vermont starter Mitchell Clegg and the Lake Monster bullpen as the Spinners only mustered four hits, two of them being doubles by Tom DiBenedetto and Drew Hedman.
The Spinners are off today and return home for a six game homestand which begins tommorow night against the Aberdeen Ironbirds, first pitch is scheduled for 7:05
Drew Hedman collected his third double on the season in game two of yesterday's doubleheader in Vermont
New Prospect Rankings Full of Spinners Past and Present
The top prospect rankings were recently updated and we are happy to report that many Spinners past and present are among the top prospects in the rankings. The rundown is as follows
Casey Kelly is now ranked the top prospect in the Red Sox organization after going 1-4 witha 3.09 ERA with 35 strikeouts against 7 walks this season for the Salem Red Sox.
Top Prospect Casey Kelly in Lowell Last Year
- Current Spinner Ryan Westmoreland is #7
- Former Spinner Ryan Kalish is #8
- Former Spinner Nick Hagadone is #9
- Former Spinner Stolmy Pimentel is #10
Tim Federowicz is #14 and was recentley named the Sox Prospects Player of the Month for June
Current Spinners also in the top prospect list include Alex Wilson #22, Derrik Gibson #23, and Michael Almanzar #33. Congratulations to all, you are truly “On the Road to Boston”.
Tim Federowicz Sox Prospects Player of the Month June 2009
Almanzar, McGuiness Go Deep as Spinners Down Lake Monsters 10-3
Michael Almanzar and Chris McGuiness went back to back in the 4th inning and the Spinners took advantage of 5 Lake Monsters errors to win 10-3 on Friday night. Yeiper Castillo pitched another solid game going 6 innings, allowing 1 run and striking out 5. Ryan Westmoreland continued his streak of reaching base in every game this season by lacing his 4th double of the season. Richie Lentz ran into a bit of trouble in his 1.1 innings of work but struck out 4. The Spinners look to continue their hot streak tonight against the Lake Monsters at 7:05. Jose Alvarez takes the mound in search of his second win of the season.
Michael Almanzar bats during a Dominican Summer Leage Game
Fireworks from bats, sky, highlight Spinners Win
Last night the Spinners bats came alive in an 11-0 drubbing of the Staten Island Yankees. Michael Almanzar was 3-3 with 3RBI’s, and Jose Alvarez pitched 6 scoreless innings in the win. Fans were treated with an amazing post game fireworks display as the weather cleared just in time to get everything in last night.
The Spinners go for their third win in a row Thursday for Jed Lowrie Bobble Head Giveaway Night sponsored by Sovereign Bank and 980 WCAP. LHP Cesar Cabral (0-2, 5.40) gets the ball for a 7:05 first pitch.
Here’s a treat for all you fans out there, below you can watch Michael Almanzar stroke his first hit of the day. (Courtesy of SoxProspects)
The Spin on the Spinners 