NYPL State College Spikes

Spikes' Bats Stifled in Pair of Shutout Defeats against Spinners

Published on July 29, 2012 under New York-Penn League (NYPL)
State College Spikes News Release


LOWELL, MA - Despite a strong pitching performance by Adrian Sampson in game one, the State College Spikes were held at bay on offense throughout a doubleheader at LeLacheur Park on Sunday night, dropping a 1-0 decision to the Lowell Spinners on a walk-off double in the first game and then falling in the nightcap, 2-0.

Sampson, the 2012 fifth-round draft choice of the Pirates, was equal to the task on the mound in the opener, retiring 13 batters in a row at one point and not yielding a hit until the fifth inning. The only two baserunners against the right-hander came from a first-inning walk to Deven Marrero and a fifth-inning single by Jake Davies. Sampson's five-inning outing was the longest of his professional career, and he racked up four strikeouts as well.

However, Kendrick Perkins had the walk-off double for Lowell (15-26) in the seventh inning against Pat Ludwig (2-1) to plate the only run of the opener. Mookie Betts scored the winning run after singling to right field with one out in the frame. Ludwig had allowed just one walk in 1 1/3 innings before allowing the lone run of the game to take his first loss as a professional.

State College's (23-18) best opportunity to score in game one came early in the contest. Alex Fuselier and Barrett Barnes delivered back-to-back singles in the first inning, and after a wild pitch, advanced to third base and second base, respectively. Fuselier was then picked off of third, though, and a subsequent popout ended the Spikes threat.

Samuel Gonzalez chased Lowell starter Brian Johnson from the mound in the second inning by lining a ball off of his left leg for a fielder's choice. Johnson, a first-round draft pick of the Red Sox this year out of Florida, was making his professional debut with the Spinners on Sunday.

However, reliever Francisco Taveras (3-1) took over and allowed just one more hit to State College the rest of the way. Taveras added three strikeouts as well over 5 2/3 innings of work for the win.

In game two, Barnes and Gonzalez both doubled to create scoring chances, but each was stranded on base as the Spikes mustered only those two hits in the game.

The Spinners plated a run apiece in the third and fifth frames to take the victory. Deven Marrero, the other first-round draft choice of the Red Sox in 2012, reached on an error and then stole second and third before scoring on Dreily Guerrero's single to create Lowell's first run. In the fifth inning, Zach Kapstein led off with a double, advanced to third base, and crossed the plate on Mike Miller's RBI single to complete the scoring.

Marrero stole three bases in game two, and four total in the doubleheader, for the Spinners.

Fuselier collected two of the Spikes' three hits in game one.

Joely Rodriguez (2-1) took his first loss of the year for State College after giving up two runs, one earned, on five hits and a walk over 4 1/3 innings. The southpaw also struck out one.

Tyler Wilson (2-0) picked up the win in relief for Lowell, allowing two hits and striking out three in three innings. Kyle Kraus (1) notched his first save of the year with a perfect seventh inning. Spinners starter Mike Augliera also starred on the mound in game two, retiring all nine batters he faced, with five going down via strikeout, over three innings. Augliera had carried a 10.05 ERA into Sunday's double dip.

Monday, 17-year-old phenom Luis Heredia (2-1) gets the ball for State College as the Spikes and Spinners complete their three-game series at LeLacheur Park with a 7:05 p.m. matchup. The right-hander has earned the win in each of his last two decisions, including a victory over Batavia in his last outing on Tuesday. Heredia is also working on a streak of six straight starts of exactly five innings. Lowell will send right-hander Pat Light (0-1) to the mound.

After an off day on Tuesday, the Spikes then return home to Medlar Field at Lubrano Park on Wednesday to start a six-game homestand with a 7:05 p.m. matchup against the Hudson Valley Renegades (Tampa Bay Rays). Fans can start the month of August with Half-Price Wednesday, presented by BIG Froggy 101. Get into the ballpark with half-price Outfield Bleacher tickets, then enjoy half-price select domestic draft beers from 6-8 p.m. and half-price fountain drinks all evening long.

It will also be the manliest night at the ballpark this season with Guys Night Out, presented by Stocker Chevrolet Subaru. The Spikes will spotlight all of the things guys love: action movies, football, burping, and half-price beer. In addition, the Spikes will honor James A. Beaver, the 20th governor of Pennsylvania and former President of Penn State University, whose name adorns the 109,000-seat stadium across the street from Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.

Tickets for each of the six games during the Spikes' August 1-6 homestand, 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 Monday via the Spikes Radio Network, presented by Penn State Sports Medicine, at 6:50 p.m. with the Spikes GameDay Show live from LeLacheur Park. 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 29, 2012


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