STATE COLLEGE SPIKES (2-4) @ BATAVIA MUCKDOGS (2-4)Monday, June 25 -- 7:05 PM
Dwyer Stadium - Batavia, NY
Game #7 / Road Game # 3
RHP Moises Robles (0-1,1.50) vs. RHP Brandon Garner (0-1, 23.14)
TONIGHT'S STARTER: RHP Moises Robles will be making his second start of the season and only his eighth career start when he toes the rubber for the Spikes tonight. Robles made his first start on June 20th, tossing six innings, allowing only one run on seven hits, but was tabbed with the loss in State College's home opener. Robles joined the Pirates this winter after being selected in the Minor League Baseball Rule 5 Draft from the New York Mets. The draft takes place each winter at the annual winter meetings and is meant to keep teams from stockpiling too many young players at a lower level from their talent. Robles had played in the DSL last season, so in order to select him the Pirates needed to move him up from that level and pay the Mets $4,000. During Robles three year career, he has posted a 6-6 record with a 2.68 ERA. The numbers are deceptive however because in two of his three season Robles' ERA has been under 1.00.
TONIGHT'S GAME: The Spikes will take on the new St. Louis Cardinals NYPL affiliate when they head to Batavia this evening to take on the Muckdogs. Former Spikes skipper Mark DeJohn and former hitting coach Mike Shildt will be on the bench for Batavia. In addition, former Spikes catcher Steve Gonzalez and RHP Marco Gonzalez are on the Batavia roster.
THE BUCKS ARE BOOMING: The State College Spikes began the second season in franchise history, and first as the Single-A Affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates, with a record setting week at the ballpark. On Opening Night, the Spikes welcomed a standing room only crowd of 5,671 fans to the ballpark, setting a Medlar Field at Lubrano park record.
That was followed up by another all-time high, as 14,506 fans walked through the gates at the ballpark during the team's three game series against Jamestown. This weekend's series broke the previous record of 13,464 fans for a three-game set, which was set from July 2nd - 4th during the 2006 season.
In addition, three of the Spikes first four games of the season rank among the top five crowds in ballpark history after breaking the 5,000 mark in each of them. Last season there were four crowds that were over the 5,000 mark, and this year the Spikes have already had three crowds that have topped that milestone. Overall attendance is up by 11% from the same point last season.
GET ON BASE, STAY ON BASE: The Spikes have struggled with the bats during the early part of the season, hitting only .223 as a team. The numbers are even worse with runners in scoring position, as the team has combined to hit .095 (4-for-42).
SPEED TRAP: Through the team's first six games, the Spikes have stolen only one base and been caught stealing twice. They are 13th out of 14 teams in the league. The Auburn Doubledays are the only team with less swipes, as they haven't even attempted a stolen base to this point. Last season, Spikes OF Jim Rapoport lead the NYPL with 24 stolen bases.
KAN'T MAKE KONTACT: Through the first week of the season the Spikes have struck out 54 times, the second most in the NYPL. As a team they haven't struck out less than seven times in a game this season. Last night, the Spikes struck out 12 times with ten of the 12 coming on curve balls.
WALKING THIS WAY: TCU Catcher Andrew Walker is expected to join the Spikes this evening in Batavia. Walker was named to the first-team All Mountain West in 2007 for the second year in a row. He hit .321 with 28 extra base hits and 47 RBI during his junior year.
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