TONIGHT'S STARTER: RHP NICOLAS SUERO returns to Historic Bowman Field tonight and will be making his first start of the 2007 season. Suero was obtained by the Pirates as an 18-year old free agent from the Dominican Republic in 2002. In 2003, he posted a 7-1 record, and allowed only six earned runs in 41.2 innings of work. In 2005, he was 10th in the GCL with a 3.28 ERA. Last year, he only walked two batters in 48.1 innings of work. Suero split last season between full season Hickory of the South Atlantic League and Williamsport. Suero also spent the latter half of the 2005 season in a 'Cutters uniform.
TONIGHT'S GAMES: The Spikes and Crosscutters had the inaugural game of the 2007 season suspended because rain swept through Williamsport Tuesday night. The game will resume with the start of the top of the third inning with Williamsport leading 2-0. The Spikes were at the top of the order, which should mean Matt Cavagnaro will lead off for State College. On Tuesday, the Spikes were only able to manage one hit in the two innings against 'Cutters starter Sergio Escalona. Eric Huber singled in the top of the second. The Crosscutters scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the second inning, on a two run single by D'Arby Myers, plating Jermaine Williams and Caleb Mangum.
DEJA VU ALL OVER AGAIN? The series against the Crosscutters seems to parrallel the first series of last year. The first game at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park last year was a loss, and during the first series of 2006, the Spikes had a game suspended because of rain at Historic Bowman Field. This eerily similar start could mean good things for the Spikes, though. They went on to take the next nine of 11 contests against Williamsport winning the SawBuck Series with a 9-3 record.
FOUR-FOR-FOUR: A thorn in the Spikes' side last night was leadoff hitter and center fielder D'Arby Myers. Myers went 4-for-4 (four singles). The last player to have a four-hit night against State College was Batavia's Quinton Berry (Batavia was Philadelphia's 2006 affiliate). Ironically, Berry also played center field.
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