NYPL State College Spikes

Spikes Top Lake Monsters, 11-2, as Martinez Hits Inside-The-Park Homer

August 7, 2016 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
State College Spikes News Release


BURLINGTON, VT - Jeremy Martinez smashed the fifth inside-the-park home run in State College Spikes history to key a five-run fifth inning as the Spikes romped to an 11-2 win over the Vermont Lake Monsters on Sunday night at Centennial Field.

Martinez, the St. Louis Cardinals' fourth-round draft choice in 2016, legged out a three-run homer when he dropped a fly ball just inside the right-field line that was just out of reach of Vermont (19-30) right fielder Jhonny Rodriguez, who overran the ball and ran into the fence.

The Spikes (34-15) catcher joined Nathan Southard, Silvio Pena, Barrett Barnes and current teammate Danny Martin on the list of State College players to hit an inside-the-park homer.

With the win and Williamsport's loss to West Virginia, the Spikes took a six-game lead in the New York-Penn League Pinckney Division with 28 games remaining in the 2016 season.

State College took the lead in the first when Vince Jackson delivered an RBI single, and added a pair of runs on Ryan McCarvel's double in the third.

After Martinez's round-tripper, Ricardo Bautista added a run-scoring triple and Yariel Gonzalez knocked in a run with a single to complete the Spikes' big fifth inning.

In the seventh, State College tacked on three more runs on a Bautista single and Gonzalez's two-run double.

Martinez and Gonzalez each produced three hits and three runs batted in.

Jordan Hicks (2-0) also delivered a superb outing in his second start for the Spikes, yielding two runs, one of them earned, on five hits and three walks over 5 1/3 innings. Hicks, who struck out three batters in the game, now holds a 0.79 ERA through his first 11 1/3 innings for State College.

Both Vermont runs scored in the fourth, one on Luke Persico's double and another on a subsequent error.

The victory clinched the Spikes' seventh straight series victory, and allowed the Spikes to post their best record after 49 games in franchise history.

The game was delayed one hour, two minutes at the outset by rain in the Burlington area.

Monday, the Spikes and Lake Monsters complete their three-game series at Centennial Field with a 7:05 p.m. matchup. Right-hander Carson Cross (3-3) gets the ball for State College, while Vermont will send left-hander A.J. Puk (0-1) to the hill.

After the series in Vermont, the Spikes will head home on Tuesday to start a stretch of six straight home games. The Spikes will start with three games against West Virginia before welcoming the Staten Island Yankees to town for a three-game weekend series.

The homestand starts with $2 Walking Taco Tuesday, presented by B94.5, as well as Half-Craft Wednesday, presented by 93.7 The BUS. Thursday is Ladies Night, featuring Digger Dog's Diamond Dig with a $1,000 Confer's Jewelers Diamond Giveaway for one lucky winner presented by Columbia Gas of PA. In addition, Diamond Club seats will be just $8.11 each on that night for Call 811 Night, and it's a $1 Beer Thursday, presented by BIG Froggy 101.

Friday will feature FIREWORKS presented by Penn State Health, and a Patrotic Shirtsey Giveaway presented by ServiceMaster by Holobinko and Merry Maids for the first 1,000 fans. Plus, on Saturday, gates open at 6:00 p.m., and the first 1,000 fans get a Christian Hackenberg Bobblehead presented by The Nittany Lion Inn and the Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel & ESPN Radio 1450.

Sunday, fans can meet Dennis Haskins, who played "Mr. Belding" on TV's "Saved by the Bell," with the appearance presented by Comcast Spotlight. The skies will also light up with FIREWORKS presented by Nuts For You after the 6:05 p.m. game.

Tickets for all of the games on the upcoming homestand, as well as every game remaining on the Spikes' 2016 home schedule, are currently on sale through the Spikes Ticket Office by calling (814) 272-1711 or by visiting in person. Fans can also buy and download single-game tickets by visiting StateCollegeSpikes.com.

Catch all of the action on Monday via the Spikes Radio Network, presented by Penn State Health, at 6:50 p.m. with Spikes Live, presented by Mount Nittany Health, on the air from Centennial Field. The Spikes' radio broadcast can also be heard worldwide through the "Listen Live" link on StateCollegeSpikes.com, provided by the club's flagship radio home, Newsradio 1390 WRSC, as well as the TuneIn Radio app.

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New York-Penn League Stories from August 7, 2016


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