NYPL State College Spikes

Spikes Game Notes

Published on September 6, 2007 under New York-Penn League (NYPL)
State College Spikes News Release


MAHONING VALLEY SCRAPPERS (37-35) @ STATE COLLEGE SPIKES (34- 39)

Thursday, September 6 - 7:05 PM

Medlar Field at Lubrano Park - University Park, PA

Game # 74 - Home Game # 36

RHP Josh Judy (0-0, 0.00) vs. LHP Zach Duke (0-0, - . --)

SPIKES' STARTING PITCHER: Pittsburgh Pirates' LHP Zach Duke will make his fourth rehabilitation start when he takes the mound for the State College Spikes tonight at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. Duke is rehabbing from left elbow tendonitis and was placed on the Pirates' 15-day DL on 7/1/07 and moved to the 60-day DL on 8/14/07. Before his injury, Duke was 3-7 with the Pirates with a 5.79 ERA in 17 starts. Drafted in the 20th round out of Midway High School in Midland, Texas, the 24-year old Duke made his major league debut with the Pirates halfway through the 2005 season after a 12-3 start in Indianapolis (AAA). Duke busted out of the gates, sporting an 8-2 record, and 1.81 ERA in 14 starts and finished fifth in the 2005 National League Rookie of the Year balloting. In 2006, Duke went 10-15 with a 4.47 ERA en route to working 215.1 innings pitched. Zach has made three rehabilitation starts already - two for the Gulf Coast League Pirates (Rookie - A) on 8/22 (2.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K) and 8/27 (4.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 2 K) while also starting a game against for Indianapolis which he lost against Louisville on 9/1 (3.2 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 1 K). Duke is expected to return to Pittsburgh to join the Pirates after his outing in State College. Among the many of Zach Duke's accomplishments are two-time National League-Rookie-of-the-Month in 2005 and in 2005 was tine International League's Most Valuable Player, while also being named to the MLB futures team that same year. In 2004 Duke was named the Pirates' Minor League Pitcher of the Year.

SCRAPPERS' STARTING PITCHER: RHP Josh Judy will make an emergency start tonight for the Mahoning Valley Scrappers. Judy is taking the spot in the of RHP Dan Frega, tonight's scheduled starter. Frega has a blister on his pitching hand and has been shut down for the remainder of the season. This will be Judy's first starting assignment of the year, as he has worked 12 appearances out of the bullpen for both the GCL Indians (nine) and Mahoning Valley Scrappers (three). Judy is a combined 1-2 with two saves for both clubs, after being promoted to the Scrappers in late August. The righty from Fort Wayne, Indiana has struck out a combined 21 this year while walking 11 in 22.1 innings of work. Since joining Mahoning Valley, opponents are only hitting .120 off of Judy. Josh was drafted in the 34th round this past June by the Cleveland Indians

ON TAP TONIGHT/ON DECK TOMORROW: The Spikes and Scrappers will play the middle game of a three-game set tonight at 7:05 p.m. The first 2,000 fans to the ballpark will receive a complimentary Spikes Football, thanks to Immix Wireless. Tonight, members of THON will be at the ballpark and they will be auctioning autographed jerseys during the game. Tomorrow, the Spikes wrap up the 2007 season where fans can enjoy a post-game fireworks show.

LAST NIGHT'S GAME: The State College Spikes scored early and held on late as they downed the Mahoning Valley Scrappers 3-1 on Wednesday night. Andrew Walker provided the offensive fire power for State College as his two run home run in the first gave the Spikes proved to be all the offense they would need. Walker's home run was only the seventh round tripper of the season with runners on base for State College.

THERE'S ONE A IN ZACH: Zach Duke will be taking the mound in a single-A baseball game for the first time since July 12, 2004 against the Frederick Keys as a member of the Lynchburg Hillcats. He won that start, pitching 6.0 innings, giving up one run and striking out seven. The next day Duke was promoted to the Altoona Curve, where he finished the season going 5-1 with a 1.89 ERA. This will be Duke's first career start in the New York-Penn League, as he started his career in the Gulf Coast League in 2002 before being promoted to Hickory in 2003, never pitching for the Williamsport Crosscutters, which at the time was the Pirates' short-season affiliate.

DUKE IS THE FIRST: Duke becomes the first-ever player to play at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park with big-league experience. Last year, Spikes SS Brendan Ryan and Hudson Valley outfielder Josh Hamilton played in the Happy Valley; however neither had major league experience until they made their debuts this season.

SPEAKIN' OF STREAKIN': Last night, Matt Cavagnaro had his 10-game hitting streak snapped with an 0-for-4 performance. Conversely, Brian Friday extended his hitting streak to five games with a 2-for-4 performance, lifting his batting average to .293. During the streak, Friday has enjoyed a multi-hit game in four of the five games. Friday has also reached base in his last 13 consecutive contests. The last time Brian Friday did not reach base was August 22 at Batavia. Friday has already established the franchise record for most consecutive games of reaching base - 20 which he set from July 18 - August 18. Friday has reached base safely in 35 of his 38 games played this season.

MAN OF STEAL: Spikes SS Brian Friday started his time with the Spikes by stealing five bases in his first six games with the team. In the 32 games that have followed, the 3rd round selection out of Rice University has stolen only one base while getting thrown out trying to swipe a bag four times.

JUSTIN-CREDIBLE: With the season coming to an end, there are a number of Spikes franchise record that have already been broken or are in danger of falling. Justin Byler set the record for games played with 67 when he took the field last night. The former 36th round selection has already set the mark for hits in a season and has tied Mark Hamilton with eight home runs. Byler is also three RBI short of Nathan Southard's mark of 44 and one run scored short of Jim Rapoport's record. Byler is also two doubles and two extra base hits short of the mark that Nathan Southard posted last season.

ALWAYS A BRIDESMAID: While the Auburn Doubledays have won six-straight Pinckney Division crowns, the Mahoning Valley Scrappers have finished in second place in the Pinckney Division in five of those six years (this year included). The Scrappers won the Pinckney Division Crown in 2004 as the New York - Penn League wildcard winner. The only year in which Mahoning Valley did not finish in second place was 2005, when they finished in third, just behind Batavia.

PLAYOFF PICTURE SET: Following the results of last night, the playoff picture in the New York - Penn League has been set. Oneonta's 14-8 victory over Aberdeen sealed a Stedlar Division Championship, while Brooklyn's 3-1 victory over Lowell sealed the Cyclone's fate for the playoffs in the McNamara Division. The Staten Island Yankees, also from the McNamara have clinched at least the wild card; however, Brooklyn has not officially clinched the McNamara Division. As it stands now, Staten Island would play Brooklyn in the first round of the playoffs, while Oneonta would square off against the Pinckney Division champ Auburn.

PIRATES AFFILIATE REPORT: PITTSBURGH (61-78) SS Jack Wilson and C Ronny Paulino each had three RBIs, and Adam LaRoche hit his 21st home run in the Pirates' 8-2 victory over the Cardinals at Busch Stadium on Wednesday night. Tony Armas allowed two runs over six innings to win his third game of the year... HICKORY lost to West Virginia, 12-2, in Game 1 of their South Atlantic League best-of-three semifinal. RHP Mike Crotta (0-1, 15.75) allowed seven runs and 10 hits in four-plus innings. RF Jonel Pacheco (.333) went 1 for 3 with a double and a walk. Former Spikes' SS Michael Ambrose (.500) went 2 for 4.

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