State College Spikes centerfielder Evan Chambers slowly walked back to the dugout with his bat in his hands after his final strikeout. It was all he could do after the Spikes lost for the seventh straight night.
The Spikes offense did its job early. Instead it was the bullpen that couldn't hold a three-run lead as the Lowell Spinners used a three-run seventh and a three-run ninth inning to defeat the Spikes, 8-5.
"It's definitely frustrating," Spikes catcher Craig Parry said. "On the road, our offense was struggling a little bit to produce runs, and we were pitching really well and keeping us in several ballgames. Tonight was one of those games where we did score some runs, and I didn't think our pitching was that bad tonight, either. It was just one of those nights."
Playing at home for the first time in a week, the Spikes (13-18) looked like they would break their losing skid, taking a 5-2 lead into the top of the seventh after a four-run bottom of the fifth inning gave State College the lead. That was before the Spinners (16-14) scored three times to tie the game off of Spikes relievers Victor Black and Alan Knotts (1-2).
The Spinners took the lead in the ninth inning when designated hitter Ryan Westmoreland -- who burned Spikes starter Tyler Cox with a single and a home run -- came up against Spikes reliever Marc Baca. Westmoreland would ground a triple down the right field line past a diving Justin Byler to give Lowell the lead for good. Westmoreland would later score on a sacrifice fly and end the game 3-for-3, with three RBIs, two walks and three runs scored.
"He's pretty good," Spikes third baseman Pat Irvine said. "He's up from around where I am, so I've heard of him before. I heard he was a pretty good player, and he looked like one tonight."
As much as the Spikes battled Westmoreland, both teams had to contend with the umpiring crew as well. Monday's game was riddled with disputed calls and arguments. Spikes manager Gary Robinson had three separate arguments with the crew.
One of which came on a disputed fly ball in the fifth inning by Parry that was originally called foul before Robinson argued and was eventually ruled a home run. Lowell manager Gary DiSarcina came out to argue the call, and was subsequently ejected from the game.
"Can't blame the umpires, but they were bad on both sides," Irvine said. "There's nothing you can say other than that they weren't very good."
Parry's home run was the big hit in a four-run fifth inning that erased a one-run Lowell lead.
"They came out, they knocked their starter out of the game," Cox said. "Anytime you get in their bullpen early like they did, it's always a good thing. They came up with some big hits when they needed them. Guys got on base and they knocked them in."
The fifth inning would be the last offensive output for the Spikes. Only two more baserunners would reach the rest of the night against Lowell relievers Pedro Perez, Kyle Rutter (1-0) and Dennis Neuman and left Chambers walking back to the dugout after another loss.
"We had a tough road trip where we didn't win a game," Irvine said, "And to come back home and having a chance to put that game away and we didn't, that's definitely tough."
