ONEONTA TIGERS (11-11) vs. STATE COLLEGE SPIKES (12-9)Thursday - July 12, 2007
Medlar Field at Lubrano Park
University Park, PA
Game # 22 / Home Game # 11
RHP Sean Finefrock (0-1, 7.71) vs. RHP Moises Robles (1-3, 3.38)
TONIGHT'S STARTER: RHP Moises Robles will be making his fifth start of the season when he toes the rubber for the Spikes this evening. In his last outing, Robles allowed three runs on eight hits over 6.0 innings of work. In his lone start at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, Moises allowed one run on seven hits over six innings on Opening Night. 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 seasons Robles' ERA has been under 1.00.
TONIGHT'S OPPONENT: RHP Sean Finefrock was the Tigers' 35th round selection in the 2007 MLB Draft out of Butler Community College in Kansas. Finefrock began the ‘07 campaign in the Gulf Coast League. In 2006, he was selected in the 32nd Round by the San Diego Padres out of high school. This year at Butler, Finefrock went 2-3 with a 4.45 ERA. In 28.1 innings of work, he allowed 14 earned runs on 37 hits while walking four and striking out 23.
LAST GAME: : The Spikes were able to fight off the rain on Wednesday evening, but couldn't overcome the Tigers as Oneonta beat State College 4-1. Pirates' 2nd round selection Duke Welker made his professional debut and was solid over five innings, allowing two runs on seven hits but was tagged with the loss. The Spikes collected only eight hits and Justin Byler was the only player with two hits, as he went 2-for-4 with an RBI to pace the Spikes offense.
NO RUNS FOR ROBLES: RHP Moises Robles is 1-3 on the season with a 3.68 ERA, but he has pitched better than his record would indicate. In his four starts this season, the Spikes have scored a combined seven runs. Conversely, in games started by Dionis Rodriguez, the Spikes have scored 31 runs.
RUN SCORING STRUGGLES: The State College Spikes are second in the NYPL with a .276 batting average as a team, and third in the league with 193 hits. But all of those hits haven't lead to runs, as they are tenth in the league in runs scored with 86. Jamestown is last in the league with 80 runs scored. The cause of the run-scoring troubles can be traced back to the team's struggles with runners in scoring position. The Spikes are hitting only .213 as a team with runners in scoring position (10th in the NYPL) and that number drops to .202 with two-outs and runners in scoring position (11th in the NYPL).
JAMMIN' UP THE MUCKDOGS: So far this season, the Spikes have played 12 games against the Jamestown Jammers and the Batavia Muckdogs. In those 12 games, the Spikes are hitting .299 (124-for-415) as a team with 63 runs scored. In the other nine games that the Spikes have played they are hitting only .242 (69-for-285) with 23 runs scored.
DOMINATING DEFENSE: The State College Spikes have committed only 21 errors this season, which is the least in the NYPL. Accordingly, they also lead the league with a .974 fielding percentage as a team. They have also turned 21 double plays, which is tied for third most in the league, only two behind Williamsport for the league lead.
EIGHT ISN'T ENOUGH: Last night, the Spikes scored their only run of the game in the bottom of the eighth. That run was only the fourth run they have scored in the eighth inning of any of their games. They have scored 14 runs in the fourth, 13 runs in the fifth, and 13 runs in the second to lead their offensive efforts.
HOME COOKIN': SS Michael Ambrose has been swinging the hottest bat on the team of late, hitting .387 (12-for-31) over the last ten games. Ambrose's charge of late has been helped by his performance at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, as the former Charlotte 49er is hitting .370 (8-for-27) at home. On the road, the former Academic All-American is hitting only .217 (5-for-23). RHP Taylor Cameron has also been strong at home, tossing 7.1 scoreless innings over his four relief outings. On the road, Cameron has been touched up for two runs in his two appearances.
NEGRO LEAGUE TRIBUTE NIGHT: On Sunday, July 15th the Spikes will be holding Negro League Tribute night. The events will begin at noon with the second little league clinic of the season, and then continue at 3:00 p.m. when former Negro League stars from the Harrisburg Giants and Indianapolis Clowns will tell the stories of their experiences in baseball before integration. In addition, both the State College Spikes and Brooklyn Cyclones will be wearing "throwback" jerseys to pay tribute to the past.
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