The Lowell Spinners saw a one-run win turn into a blowout loss in a matter of minutes Sunday at Fenway Park.
The Boston Red Sox’s short-season Class-A affiliate, hosting the Mahoning Valley Scrappers in the annual “Futures at Fenway” showcase, came unglued with two outs in the ninth inning, allowing six runs in the final frame en route to a 6-1 loss.
Right-handers Kevin McAvoy, a fourth-round pick in last month’s MLB draft out of Bryant University, and Simon Mercedes combined to keep the Scrappers off the board for the game’s first seven innings while the Spinners took the first lead on an RBI single by Mauricio Doubon in the fourth.
That 1-0 score remained until the ninth, when reliever James Shepherd, trying for a two-inning save, recorded two quick outs before imploding. Shepherd, a Kentucky product, allowed a two-out single followed by three consecutive walks before getting the hook. Oscar Perez replaced him and struggled also, hitting a batter and allowing two doubles before recording the final out.
Doubon, Jordan Betts and Danny Mars each finished with two hits for the Spinners, while second base prospect Steven Patterson paced the Cleveland Indians-affiliate Scrappers with a double, a run scored and three RBIs.
Shane Victorino, who is with Lowell on a rehab assignment, started in right field and went 0-for-2 with a walk. He was lifted for a pinch runner in the fifth inning.
Photo via Facebook/Lowell Spinners
