NYPL State College Spikes

Barnes Homers, But Scrappers Pull Away to Top Spikes, 7-3

Published on July 17, 2012 under New York-Penn League (NYPL)
State College Spikes News Release


NILES, OH - Barrett Barnes delivered his fourth home run of the season to ignite the State College Spikes' offense, and the Spikes battled some bad breaks to tie the game in the eighth inning, but the Mahoning Valley Scrappers put four runs on the board in the bottom half of the frame and take a 7-3 decision on Tuesday night at Eastwood Field.

Barnes blasted an 0-1 pitch from Mahoning Valley (15-14) starter Ryan Merritt over the left field wall into the State College (14-15) bullpen for a solo shot that gave the Spikes their first run in the sixth inning.

The Pirates' supplemental first-round draft choice also played a central role in a controversial situation in the eighth inning. Down 3-1 entering the frame, the Spikes loaded the bases on two walks and a fielder's choice. Barnes then grounded into an apparent double-play ball, but the throw to first base was wide, which would have allowed Tyler Gaffney and Jodaneli Carvajal to score and tie the game.

However, Barnes was ruled out on interference, completing the double play and sending Gaffney back to third and Carvajal back to second, where they started before Barnes's grounder. With two outs and the score back at 3-1, D.J. Crumlich came to the rescue with a single to center field that brought Gaffney and Carvajal in to score anyway and make it 3-3 going to the bottom of the eighth.

The Scrappers came back with a quartet of runs, however, to take a lead they would not relinquish. An error by Spikes reliever Jordan Cooper (1-2) allowed Mahoning Valley to score the go-ahead run, and after Joey Wendle plated another run with a single through the left side, Aaron Siliga's two-run single to right completed the scoring.

Mahoning Valley had taken the initial lead on a run-scoring base hit by Tyler Naquin in the first inning. Charlie Valerio then drove a solo homer over the right-field fence off of Joely Rodriguez to make it 2-0, Scrappers, in the fifth inning. Wendle's RBI double in the sixth bumped the Mahoning Valley lead back up to two runs before the bedlam of the eighth inning.

Crumlich was the lone Spike with multiple hits in the game, and added a stolen base as well.

Cooper took the loss for State College after being assessed all four Mahoning Valley runs in the eighth inning, three of them earned. The right-hander yielded a total of three hits and struck out one in 2/3 of an inning. Rodriguez started the game for the Spikes, and lowered his ERA to 2.17 by allowing two runs, one of them earned, on three hits over five innings.

Jacob Lee (3-0) got credit for the win for Mahoning Valley. Lee allowed two hits and a walk in 1/3 of an inning and blew the save opportunity, but got the victory after the Scrappers' big eighth. Starter Ryan Merritt matched Brooklyn's Luis Mateo for the longest outing by a Spikes opponent on the mound with seven innings of work, yielding one run on four hits and a walk while striking out five.

The loss extended the Spikes' slide to a season-long four games.

Wednesday, 17-year-old right-hander Luis Heredia (1-1), ranked by Baseball America as one of the five best players in the Pirates system, will get the ball for the Spikes in a 7:05 p.m. matchup against the Scrappers. Heredia earned his first win with State College last time out after hurling five one-run innings against Staten Island. Mahoning Valley will go with right-hander Josh Martin (3-1). The meeting will be the last for the two teams this year at Eastwood Field.

The Spikes will return home on Thursday to start a stretch of four home games in six nights with a 7:05 p.m. contest against the Williamsport Crosscutters (Philadelphia Phillies). The first 1,000 fans through the gates when they open at 5:45 for season ticket holders and 6 p.m. to the public will receive a "Dark Spike" Bobblehead Doll, presented by P.J. Harrigan's . Plus, it's Heroes Night, as the Spikes honor the real heroes of our community - the police, fire and emergency professionals who help keep us safe.

Kids 12 and under can also get a voucher for a free hot dog, chips and small soda as well as a one-time free-play pass to Ike's Kids Zone on Kids Eat N' Play Free Thursday, presented by Dairy Queen Grill & Chill . Fans can also bring old papers to Skills of Central PA 's Pre-Game Recycling Event, and fans presenting their Nittany Bank credit or debit cards can get a $4 discount on any ticket in the ballpark excluding suites and picnics.

Tickets for Thursday's game, as well as every Spikes regular season home game in 2012, are currently on sale through the Spikes Box Office by calling (814) 272-1711 or by visiting in person. Fans can also buy and print single-game tickets by visiting StateCollegeSpikes.com.

Catch all of the action on Wednesday via the Spikes Radio Network, presented by Penn State Sports Medicine, at 6:50 p.m. with the Spikes GameDay Show live from Eastwood Field. The Spikes' radio broadcast can also be heard worldwide through the "Listen Live" link on StateCollegeSpikes.com, provided by 95.3 FM 3WZ.

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New York-Penn League Stories from July 17, 2012


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