Bangor offense stifled Kelly leads Spirit past Lumberjacks

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ORONO – A ninth-inning rally by the Bangor Lumberjacks fell one run short as North Shore starting pitcher John Kelly remained unbeaten and led the Spirit to a 2-1 Northeast League victory on a balmy, clear Monday night at Mahaney Diamond.

Kelly was impressive on the mound as he pitched a three-hitter, struck out 13, and walked none to improve his record to 7-0 and his first-place team’s record to 25-17.

“My location was the key. I can get away with throwing my slider and change off the plate, but for me, it’s big if I can locate my fastball,” said the 6-foot, 180-pound righthander, who credited catcher Frank Charles for his success.

“I owe it all to him. I think I called him off once on a pitch all game long,” he added.

Bangor started the ninth with a Schuyler Doakes single up the middle. An error by second baseman Marcos Agramonte moved him to third and Barry Paulk to first. Paulk was erased on a fielder’s choice grounder that scored Doakes. Kelly then regrouped and retired Donnie Ross on a pop fly to third before ending the game with a strikeout of pinch-hitter Lorenzo de la Cruz on four pitches.

“The last couple times, his outings weren’t as good as he’s been for us in the past, but he pitched a heck of a game tonight,” said North Shore manager John Kennedy. “I thought he moved the ball around real well and he kept them off-balance most of the night by getting ahead in the count most of the time.”

Kelly’s effort overshadowed a solid outing by Bangor lefty Danny Miller, who took his league-leading seventh loss despite throwing a four-hitter with 10 strikeouts and four walks. None of the runs scored by the Spirit of Lynn, Mass., were earned.

North Shore scored its two runs in the top of the sixth inning. The first of two Bangor errors, this one a fielding error by Doakes, allowed leadoff man Agramonte reach base. A sacrifice bunt later, Miller recorded the second out on a groundout, but a throwing error by third baseman Todd Brock allowed Carlos Sepulva to reach and moved Agramonte to third. Frank Charles then belted Miller’s first pitch to him to the base of the right field wall for a two-run double.

The loss snaps a four-game win streak for Bangor, now 19-24.

GAME NOTES – A malfunctioning light pole between home plate and third base caused a 15-minute delay in the game just before the top of the eighth inning. The 16-light pole also blacked out in the fourth, but didn’t cause a delay as it was still light enough (sunny) for it not to affect playing conditions. Power was restored and the lights came back on at 9:15 p.m.

SPIRIT 2, LUMBERJACKS 1

North Shore (25-17) Bangor (19-24)

Player AB R H BI Player AB R H BI

Agramonte, 2b 3 1 1 0 Paulk, cf 4 0

Startari, 3b 3 0 1 0 Martinez, ss 4 0 1

Tejada, dh 3 0 0 0 Ross, 1b 4 0 0

Sepulceda, cf 2 1 0 0 Britt, dh 3 0

Charles, c 4 0 2 2 De la Cruz, dh 1 0 0

Muth, lf 4 0 0 0 Brock, 3b 3 0 0

Riordan, 1b 3 0 0 0 Thompson, lf 3 0 0

Castellanos, rf 2 0 0 0 Tindell, rf 3 0

Sanchez, ss 3 0 0 0 Hargreaves, c 3 0 0

Doaks, 2b 3 1 1 0

Totals 27 2 4 2 Totals 31 1 3 1

North Shore 000 002 000 ? 2

Bangor 000 000 001 ? 1

E?Agramonte; Brock, Doakes, Miller; LOB?North Shore 4, Bangor 3; DP? Martinez to Doaks; 2B?Charles 2; SH?Startari; SB?Agramonte

North Shore IP H R ER BB SO

Kelly (W, 7-0) 9 3 1 0 0 13

Bangor IP H R ER BB SO

Miller (L, 1-7) 9 4 2 0 4 10

HBP?Agramonte by Miller; T?2:36; ATT?701