NYPL State College Spikes

Spikes Game Notes

Published on August 22, 2007 under New York-Penn League (NYPL)
State College Spikes News Release


STATE COLLEGE SPIKES (29-28) vs. BATAVIA MUCKDOGS (23-34)

Wednesday, August 22nd - 7:05 PM

Dwyer Stadium - Batavia, NY

Game #58 / Road Game # 30

RHP Brandon Williams (0-1, 2.22) vs. LHP Jon Stambaugh(2-1, 2.76)

PINCKNEY DIVISION STANDINGS

TEAM W L PCT GB

Auburn 34 24 .586 -

Mahoning Valley 31 26 .544 2.5

State College 29 28 .509 4.5

Batavia 23 34 .404 10.5

Williamsport 22 35 .386 11.5

Jamestown 20 36 .357 13.0

SPIKES STARTING PITCHER:

RHP BRANDON WILLIAMS will make just his second start of the year for the State College Spikes. Williams has taken the spot in the Spikes rotation of RHP Duke Welker, who was placed on the disabled list yesterday. Williams, who has been used primarily as a long reliever for the Spikes checks in with a 0-1 record and an ERA of 2.22. Brandon has worked 24.1 innings this year while issuing just 24 hits. The righty from Tega Cuy, South Carolina has punched out 17 and walked 10, while opposing batters are hitting just .261 off Williams. Originally selected by the Pirates in the 29th round of last year's draft, Williams holds the distinction of being the first player to ever don a uniform for both the State College Spikes and their sister organization, the Altoona Curve (AA - Pirates). Williams made two relief appearances for the Curve on July 4 at Trenton (1.1 IP, 5H, 3ER, 1K) and at Bowie on July 7 (2.0 IP, 1H, 1ER, 1K).

MUCKDOGS STARTING PITCHER:

LHP JON STAMBAUGH: will make his 13th appearance of the 2007 season tonight (seventh start) for the Batavia Muckdogs. Stambaugh checks in with an overall record of 2-1 and an ERA of 2.76 in 45.2 innings pitched, having struck out 32 and walking just seven. The 22-year old Stambaugh has not started consecutive games this year, as he has consistently alternated appearances as a starter and as a reliever. His last appearance out of the bullpen against Auburn on August 18, Stambaugh went 4.0 scoreless innings giving up just two hits. Stambaugh's longest outing of the year came back on July 7 in a start versus Staten Island, where he went 5.0 innings. Jon has also recorded one save this year; it was a 4.0 inning save in his second appearance of the season, which was against the Spikes on June 25 at Dweyer Field. Stambaugh has had more success out of the bullpen this season, as his ERA is 1.77 working from the Batavia pen, as opposed to 3.23 when he is in the Muckdogs' starting rotation.

LAST NIGHT'S GAME

WIN - Logan Collier (2-0)

LOSS - Matt Foust (2-5)

TIME OF GAME - 2:44

ATTENDANCE - 1,085

The State College Spikes snapped their three game winning streak with a 6-4 loss to the Batavia Muckdogs. Matt Foust (2-5) suffered the loss after allowing five runs on four hits over only three innings of work. Marcus Davis provided the bulk of the offense for State College, as his three run home run in the fourth drew the Spikes even but they were never able to take the lead.

TONIGHTS GAME

The Spikes will wrap up their short two-game series with the Muckdogs tonight before locking horns with Batavia at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park on Tuesday August 28 and Wednesday August 29. Next week will be the final time the Spikes and Muckdogs play in the 2007 season.

ON DECK

After tonight's game against the Muckdogs, the Spikes will travel to Diethrich Park in Jamestown, NY to take on the Jamestown Jammers for three games in two days. The Spikes will play a double-header on Thursday starting at 5:05 p.m. with RHP Nicolas Suero (3-3, 2.83) scheduled to start the first game, and RHP Dionis Rodriguez (3-1, 3.82) slated to take the stump in the night cap. On Friday, RHP Kyle McPhearson, just recently promoted from the GCL Pirates (A) in Bradenton, FL will make his Spikes debut.

MULLIGAN ON THE FIREWORKS

Since Sunday's game against the Jamestown Jammers was postponed to a rain storm, the Spikes will make up the promotional fireworks show that was set to take place after Sunday's game. On Tuesday, August 28 against Batavia, fans will be able to enjoy the post-game extravaganza. Also, the first 2,000 fans coming to the game will receive a complementary Spikes backpack.

BEATIN' UP BATAVIA:

The Spikes come into tonight's action with a 5-2 record during the 2007 season against Batavia. In those seven games, the Spikes have outscored Batavia 38 to 24. In the previous six games, there are seven Spikes players hitting over .350 against the new Single-A Affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. James Barksdale (.444), Justin Byler (.400), Matt Cavagnaro (.375), Marcus Davis (.389), Smelin Perez (.389), Nick Stillwagon (.357) and Andrew Walker (.357) are all hitting above this level. SS Michael Ambrose who has since been promoted to Hickory was hitting .625 against the Muckdogs.

WALKER ON A WARPATH:

Spikes catcher Andrew Walker has been swinging the hottest bat in the Spikes lineup over his last ten games. Walker, who has hit safely in 13 of his last 14 games, has raised his average from .250 (which it was on August 5 vs. Mahoning Valley) to its current .320 mark. In Walker's last 14 games, he has collected multiple hits in seven games, including a career-high 4-for-5 performance against Williamsport on August 17.

MOVE OVER, HAMBONE:

With a three-run shot last night Marcus Davis hit his eighth home run of the year, tying Mark Hamilton's club record for home runs in a season. Hamilton was able to reach the eight home run mark last year in 30 games before being promoted to The Swing of the Quad Cities (A) on July 24, 2006. Davis has reached the eight homers in 40 games.

NICKLES AND DIMES:

The Spikes offense, which currently ranks second in the New York-Penn League in batting average (.266) has had such great success due in large part to five Spikes hitting .300 or better over their last 10 games. Justin Byler (.314, 11-for-35), Matt Cavagnaro (.367, 11-for-30), Keanon Simon (.410, 16-for-39), Bobby Spain (.346, 9-for-26), and Andrew Walker (.444, 16-for-36) are all locked in. Conversely, Austin McClune (.091, 2-for-22) and Erik Huber (.125, 3-for-24) have cooled off.

PIRATES AFFILIATE REPORT:

Pittsburgh (53-71) lost at Colorado last night 9-2. Tony Armas suffered the loss...INDIANAPOLIS (66-63) lost at Toledo, 4-0. RHP Bryan Bullington (11-7, 3.84) allowed four runs and four hits in five innings. He struck out five and walked four. CF Andrew McCutchen (.429) had both of his team's hits, going 2 for 4...ALTOONA (64-62) lost at Reading, 1-0, in a game shortened by rain to 5 1/2 innings. The Curve had no hits. RHP Dewon Brazelton (4-4, 3.54) allowed one run in five innings...LYNCHBURG (54-69) split a doubleheader against Winston-Salem, losing, 3-2, and winning, 4-3...HICKORY (61-63) lost at Greensboro, 6-2. RHP Jared Hughes (7-9, 4.49) allowed four runs in six innings...BRADENTON (22-29) was off.

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