NYPL State College Spikes

Spikes Game Notes

Published on August 31, 2007 under New York-Penn League (NYPL)
State College Spikes News Release


STATE COLLEGE SPIKES (32 - 35) @ AUBURN DOUBLEDAYS (42 - 26)

Friday, August 31 - 7:05 PM

Falcon Park - Auburn, NY

Game # 68 / Road Game # 36

RHP Matt Foust ( 2-5, 4.36) vs. LHP Chi-Hung Cheng ( 1-1, 2.00)

SPIKES STARTING PITCHER: RHP MATT FOUST will toe the rubber for the Spikes this evening, in search of his first win in over three weeks. Foust enters this evening's action with a record of 2-5 and a 4.36 ERA in 12 starts. Over his 43.1 innings of work, he has allowed 33 runs, 21 of which are earned, on 37 hits while walking 30 and striking out 38. Foust has struggled with his control all season, as his nine hit batsmen and 30 free passes rank him among the league leaders. In four of his last five outings, he was allowed five runs, while lasting longer than 3.2 innings of work only once. During the month of August he is 1-2 with a 7.15 ERA in four starts, which have lasted only 11.1 innings. His last start was on August 26th against the Williamsport Crosscutters and he lasted only 2/3 of an inning, allowing five unearned runs on three hits. Most of Foust's troubles have occurred on the road, as he is 1-4 with a 7.06 ERA in six starts on the road, versus 1-1 with a 1.66 ERA in six starts at home. Foust was selected in the sixth round of the 2007 MLB Draft out of the University of Nebraska

DOUBLEDAYS STARTING PITCHER: LHP CHI-HUNG CHENG will be making his third start of the season when he takes the mound for Auburn tonight. He is 1-1 with a 2.00 ERA. In his first start he allowed two runs on two hits over his four innings but took the loss. In his most recent outing, he tossed five shutout innings, allowing only two hits and walk while striking out seven. Cheng started the season with the GCL Blue Jays and went 0-2 with a 6.52 ERA in four starts. He fell victim to the long ball in the GCL allowing three home runs in only 9.2 innings of work. This is the southpaw's second go round in the NYPL after spending part of the 2004 season with Auburn. In 2005 and 2006 he played for the Lansing Lugnuts and was named a Midwest League All-Star. Cheng was signed as a non-drafted free agent on November 26, 2003 by the Blue Jays.

WHAT'S ON TAP: The Spikes will look to rebound after last night's marathon loss when they take on the Doubledays in the finale of the quick two game set before heading to Mahoning Valley for a pair beginning tomorrow. With only eight games remaining, the Spikes need go to at least 6-2 to finish the season above .500. With a loss tonight the Spikes would have their third three game losing streak in the last 11 days.

LAST NIGHT'S GAME: The State College Spikes dropped a heartbreaker in 10 innings Thursday night at Falcon Park by the score of 11-10. The Spikes rallied from a 7-0 deficit to tie the game in the sixth and then rallied again late to tie the score at ten and send the game into extras before falling thanks to an unearned run.

TRAGIC NUMBER: With last night's loss, the Spikes were officially eliminated from post-season contention. The Spikes are now 9.5 games behind Auburn with eight games to play, and are 8.5 games behind the Staten Island Yankees in the race for the Wild Card. The Doubledays however, can clinch their sixth straight Pinckney Division crown with a win this evening and a loss by the Mahoning Valley Scrappers. They would be the first NYPL team to clinch a playoff birth, as the Brooklyn Cyclones hold a 2.5 game lead in the McNamara Division and the Oneonta Tigers hold a 1.0 game lead in the Stedler Division race.

NO LOVE FOR THE GLOVE: The Spikes have struggled down the stretch of the season, going 3-7 in their last 10 games despite the fact that the team is hitting .301 over that span. James Barksdale (.571), Justin Byler (.405), John Fitzpatrick (.300), Erik Huber (.308), Bobby Spain (.360) and Andrew Walker (.300) are all hitting above .300 over that span. The main reason for the struggles has been the fact that the Spikes have committed 22 errors in those 10 games. These errors have lead to 13 unearned runs, including five in the first inning during Matt Foust's last start.

CAVY COMING ON: After struggling with the stick through the month of July, Matt Cavagnaro turned it around in August. The former Penn Stater is hitting .297 (30-for-101) in the eighth month of the year after hitting only .167 (15-for-90) in July. He has also increased his run production, scoring 15 runs in August after crossing the plate only five times in July. Cavagnaro has picked up his play even more as of late, hitting .400 (10-for-25) in his last five games.

HEAVE-HO: Last night, Spikes manager Turner Ward was ejected from the game in the bottom of the first inning for arguing a balk call on emergency starter Yoffri Martinez. It was the first time this season that Ward was ejected, and only the second time all year that anyone from State College was ejected as Justin Byler got tossed earlier this year for arguing a called third strike. In 2006, Spikes manager Mark DeJohn was ejected twice as was hitting coach Mike Shildt. In addition, Mark Hamilton was also ejected for arguing balls and strikes early on in the 2006 season.

EXTRA-EXTRA: Last night was the seventh extra-innings game for the Spikes this season. The seven extra session games are the most in the New York-Penn League this season. State College is only 2-5 in these games and have lost their last four straight.

ALUMNI ROUND UP: With the Spikes second season coming to a close, here is a look at how some of the 2006 stars have faired this season:

- ALLEN CRAIG - Was promoted to the Springfield Cardinals (AA) after tearing up the Florida State League for most of the year. He is currently hitting .250 (3-for-12) with two runs scored, two doubles and a home run in only three games since being promoted. With the Palm Beach Cardinals, he hit .312 with 21 home runs and 77 RBI in 112 games. Craig finished the year in the top four in all triple-crown categories for the FSL.

- MARK HAMILTON - Has also made the jump to Double-A and is hitting .253 in 64 games for Springfield. He also has five home runs and 38 RBI.

- P.J WALTERS - Started the year with Palm Beach before moving to Springfield. The right hander is 3-3 with a 2.36 ERA in seven starts at Double-A.

- JASON MOTTE - The former Spikes closer has skyrocketed through the system after transferring from the catching position to the bullpen. Motte was recently clocked at over 100 MPH on the radar gun and has struck out 59 batters in his 47.0 innings at Double-A.

- ADAM OTTAVINO - The Cardinals' 1st round selection in 2006 is 12-7 with a 3.07 ERA (third best in the league) for the Palm Beach Cardinals. He was named to the post-season All-Star team as well.

- LUKE GREGERSON - considered by some to be the best prospect on the '06 squad, Gregerson picked up 29 saves with a miniscule 1.97 ERA in 53 games for the A-Full Season affiliate. In 64.0 innings of work, he struck out 59 and the opposition hit only .188 against him.

- BRENDAN RYAN - Ryan became the first former Spike to make it to the big leagues earlier this year, and he has been a major factor in the Cardinals' second half come back. Ryan is hitting .318 in 41 games and has five doubles, four home runs and 10 RBI while serving as a utility infielder for St. Louis.

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New York-Penn League Stories from August 31, 2007


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