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The Prospector: Lowell Snaps Renegades’ Victory Streak

The Lowell Spinners snap Hudson Valley's victory streak as a former Renegade returns to Dutchess Stadium in the visitors' uniform.

Friday, Aug. 10— The Lowell Spinners snapped the Renegades’ six-game victory streak, scoring three runs before the Gades even got to bat and holding on to win 9-5. While disappointed at the loss, I was primarily surprised that Hudson Valley did not bounce back in late innings as it has so often this season—15 times after being behind after seven innings, by Bob and Bev’s research.

The Renegades battled back to tie the game 4-4 after six innings but Lowell put the game out of reach with five runs in the final three innings. The loss left the Renegades three games ahead of Brooklyn in the McNamara Division after the Cyclones edged Vermont 1-0 in a pitchers’ duel. Please click here to read the game story on the Gades’ Web site.

Relief pitcher Gerardo Olivares, who was a catcher with the Renegades last season, was credited with the victory. Gerardo was acquired by the Boston Red Sox organization (of which Lowell is a part) during the off-season.

The sky was gradually clearing after a heavy downpour as I left the house and the grounds crew was putting the finishing touches on the field by the time I arrived at The Dutch. Jane Stewart, whose family’s longtime role as a player host makes her an excellent source of such information, greeted me and a few other regulars with the news that pitcher Shay Crawford had been promoted this afternoon to the Bowling Green Hot Rods, Tampa Bay’s long-season Class A affiliate in Kentucky. While happy for Shay, we voiced hope that this was not the start of multiple player shifts within the Rays organization because, quite frankly, we are in a pennant race, there is good chemistry among our players and we would prefer to keep a good thing going without disruption.

Joe and his family, including boys 11 and 6, were up from Chappaqua in the Interstate Battery seats and he and I shared a lot of good baseball conversation throughout the evening. Among other things, he told me the story of Ed Kurpiel, a minor-league player whose May 31, 1972, home run in Moana Stadium in Reno, Nevada, was arguably the longest ever recorded. I was not familiar with the story of the blast, measured at 738 feet, but learned a lot afterward by going online. Ed played for the Modesto Reds of the Class A California League and hit the homer against the Reno Silver Sox.

Tonight’s mascot dance party, led by Rookie, Rene and Rascal atop the dugouts, featured the full version of the Chicken Dance, which I thoroughly enjoyed doing (without the spins). I also signed two more ticket stubs for the scavenger hunt, bringing my total to seven.

Moths were in noticeable abundance for the first time this season. While harmless, their numbers were a bit disconcerting, especially given my occasional encounters with less benevolent insects, such as yellow jackets and mosquitoes.

There was a scary moment in the sixth inning when Lowell right fielder Kendrick Perkins, trying to run down what became a triple for Luke Maile, crashed into the right-field wall with an impact that could be heard all over the stadium. Two Renegades scored on the play but I sat in uncustomary silence; it just didn’t seem right to scream in celebration when a player was down on the field as long as Perkins was. I found out later that he was taken to a hospital, diagnosed with a concussion and was back on the team bus, hopefully none the worse for the experience.

A nice seven-minute fireworks display followed the game although, after the first couple of minutes, it was more sound than light; smoke from the initial bursts hung so heavy in the humid air that it largely obscured the visual component of the later pyrotechnics.

Outside the clubhouse I caught up with Gerardo, who told Bev and me that he had fond memories of his time as a Renegade and wished us well. We wished him well in turn.

The post-game camaraderie was its usual enjoyable self despite the loss, with negative emotions offset by a large pan of leftover baked ziti.

The fox made a brief appearance and at one point appeared to sit and look toward us. We whistled and called but got no noticeable response.

Next home game: Saturday, Aug. 11 vs. Lowell Spinners, first pitch 7:05 p.m.

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Danny May 18, 2013 at 12:20 pm
It is dangerous and a menace to our already horrible traffic on 6. Thank God none of those kids gotRead More hit running in between cars looking for change. Traffic was backed up all through Mohegan...Poor choice of a way to raise monies for a good cause.
Peter Goodson May 18, 2013 at 08:58 am
Well MJ, of course you would be against a business being allowed to decide not to lose a substantialRead More amount of money because of a liberal social program. No surprise there. I don't speak or write for anybody, but Dwight Douglas is very respected and had been for many years. He resigned over the mess and for being betrayed. The rest of the board are useless. If they weren't so partisan they would have resigned too. As for the forensic audit, at least we agree on something. When Frank wins I hope he does one right away. Lots of money disappearing over the last 6 years, especially a huge fund balance that is now all gone.
W Kelly May 18, 2013 at 07:22 am
Peter Goodson I disagree it was initiated by the HVHC and they are stupid to think a loss of 200K aRead More year is enough cause for me or the rest of the community to believe a closure is necessary. Federspiel thinks Peekskill is bias, better check again we are pretty damn wise. The powers at be could have made a move and didn't. Greg Ball could have raised that money with one event. He is always in the media for his fundraiser at HVHC. This is an absolute mess. Mary Foster has always responded to my e-mails and always claimed she was in opposition. I have emailed her twice in the past 24 hours with no response. You can run Mary but you can't hide!
Mary Jane May 17, 2013 at 11:20 pm
That's exactly right. It was a business decision that your Republican buddies supported whole-hogRead More with their sneaky silence. The real issue is that your Republican buddies are as dirty as the day is long and they're of the same mold as this lousy administration. Check out my first post. You political blowhards don't give a rat's whisker about the taxpayers in this city. Seems Frank can't even get his allegiance straight. He's defending a "highly respected" Planning Board. Interesting choice of words. By his own admission, he's defending those "100% Dems." Forensic Audit all the way. And take it back to the last 10 years. Mr. Goodson, stick to writing Uncle Vinnie's press releases.
Teleman May 17, 2013 at 05:27 pm
Rose, why is it that you would call me a name? Why not have a productive debate about the issueRead More instead of name call? I'm sure the anti-gun lobby does not like those numbers- but they are the facts. I know it flies in the face of all of the propaganda- millions of gun purchases and gun crime goes down? This is what we've been saying all along. Leave my natural rights as affirmed by the Constitution alone.
Rose Rowland May 17, 2013 at 11:32 am
Go away, you Troll.
Teleman May 16, 2013 at 10:23 pm
Plenty of laws on the books- they are obviously working ok, and would probably work even better ifRead More vigorously enforced.
Teleman May 15, 2013 at 04:11 pm
I stand by my statement- until these contracts are fully re-negotiated and the unions startRead More contributing to their benefits and taking zero % or minimal raises, the taxes will continue to increase year after year- Buchanan will no longer be the so-called "bargain" some claim it is.
Sick of the Lies May 10, 2013 at 10:04 am
Hey Fly, before you make comments, you should check the facts. The contracts are alive and well.Read More Mr. Donahue should try learning to read and checking the facts before sending his brilliant letters to the editor in for publishing. They are almost always entirely fictional....but perhaps he really believes what he says. Yeah, right. He intentionally makes up stories to sucker people like you into believing his nonsense.
Fly on the Wall May 10, 2013 at 02:47 am
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