
Spikes Game Notes for September 5
September 5, 2009 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
State College Spikes News Release
Saturday, September 5 - 7:05 p.m.
State College Spikes - Pittsburgh Pirates (37-37) @ Mahoning Valley Scrappers - Cleveland Indians (48-26)
Game #75 / Road Game #37
RHP Phillip Irwin (1-1, 2.03) vs. RHP Brett Brach (4-2, 2.38)
-SPIKES PLAY LAST SERIES: The State College Spikes head to Eastwood Field tonight for the first game of a two-game series against the Mahoning Valley Scrappers. The Spikes finish their season with the pair of games against the 2009 Pinckney Division champions. With two wins, the Spikes will tie the franchise record of 39 victories, set in the inaugural season of 2006. The last time the Spikes finished the season with the Scrappers was in 2007, when State College swept a three-game series at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. This season, the two teams have split eight games. The Scrappers lead the all-time set, 20-18.
-LAST GAME: The Williamsport Crosscutters held the Spikes to a season-low two hits and brought the 2009 SawBuck Series to a draw with a 4-1 win at Historic Bowman Field last night. David Rubinstein and Justin Byler each doubled to provide the Spikes' base hits, but did not advance past third base. State College's only run scored after Brock Holt's RBI groundout followed a pair of errors in the eighth inning.
-IRWIN BEGINS SERIES FOR SPIKES: Right-hander Phillip Irwin gets the nod in the penultimate game of the 2009 season, as he tries to rebound from his shortest career start last time out. Irwin went just two-thirds of an inning and allowed four runs to Batavia on Monday at Dwyer Stadium. However, the Pirates' 2009 21st-round draft pick has been superb throughout the season, with a 0.69 ERA aside from his last outing.
-BRACH TO START FOR SCRAPPERS: Mahoning Valley sends right-hander Brett Brach to the mound tonight. Brach has gone six or more innings five times this year, and is 2-0 with a 1.59 ERA in his last three starts. The Monmouth alum was a 10th round draft pick in 2009.
-TRIO OF SPIKES EARN YEAR-END HONORS: In a ceremony prior to Sunday's home finale, three State College Spikes were honored with the team's annual year-end awards. Infielder Brock Holt was named the Spikes' team MVP for the 2009 season, while right-hander Kyle McPherson earned the Spikes Pitcher of the Year award, and outfielder David Rubinstein netted the inagural Leadership Award, presented by the Spikes Booster Club.
New York-Penn League Stories from September 5, 2009
- Williamsport defeat Auburn Doubledays - Williamsport Crosscutters
- Scrappers Clinch Home Field During the Playoffs with 3-0 Victory over State College - Mahoning Valley Scrappers
- Staten Island Scores 10 Runs In 2nd Inning For 11-2 Win Over Vermont Saturday - Vermont Lake Monsters
- 'Birds Drop Second Straight To Tri-City - Aberdeen IronBirds
- Spikes Shut Out By Scrappers Saturday, 3-0 - State College Spikes
- Spikes Game Notes for September 5 - State College Spikes
- IronBirds Game Notes for September 5 - Aberdeen IronBirds
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