In their first playoff game, Batavia (0-1) lost to Lowell (1-0) in extra innings by a score of 4-3. Hector Cardenas was brilliant in the start for the Muckdogs. He went six innings with one hit, one run, four walks and ten strikeouts. Zach Pitts (0-1) got the loss in his one inning of work with one hit, one run, three walks and one strikeout. Spinner Robert McClain (1-0) picked up the win in his two and a third innings with three strikeouts.
Lowell got up early, scoring one in the first on two walks and two ground outs. It remained a 1-0 game until Batavia scored three runs in the 6th. Edwin Gomez double and Colt Sedbrook had a RBI single to start things off. The bases then became loaded as Charlie Cutler reached on a force attempt and Jermaine Curtis was hit by a pitch. Shane Peterson then walked to send Sedbrook home. Chris Swauger then grounded out for the Muckdogs' third and final run.
The Spinners started their comeback in the 8th as they scored one on two doubles by Peter Hissey and Mitch Dening. They tied things up and sent the game into extras in the bottom of the 9th on a solo homerun by Will Middlebrooks. And finally, in the bottom of the 12th, Lowell plated one more to get the win. Bases became loaded before Ryan Dent was served up a walk that plated the deciding run.
Batavia's Edwin Gomez went 3-for-5 in the game with a double and run scored. The two teams play their second contest tonight at 7:05 in Batavia. If Batavia wins, the rubber-match will again be at Dwyer Stadium on Wednesday. Remember, home field advantage only counts when we have a stadium full of fans, so get out to the ballpark this week!
