NYPL State College Spikes

State College Spikes Game Notes - August 17 at Auburn

Published on August 17, 2014 under New York-Penn League (NYPL)
State College Spikes News Release


Sunday, August 17 - 1:00 p.m.

Falcon Park - Auburn, NY

STATE COLLEGE SPIKES - St. Louis Cardinals (36-25) at

AUBURN DOUBLEDAYS - Washington Nationals (26-33)

Games #62-63 / Road Games #30-31

Starting Pitchers:

State College - RHP Trey Nielsen (3-2, 2.43)/RHP Fernando Baez (2-1, 2.94)

Auburn - RHP Anderson Martinez (1-1, 3.65)/RHP Luis Torres (1-1, 1.82)

FOUR-GAME PLAYOFF PACKS GO ON SALE TO THE PUBLIC - MONDAY, AUGUST 18, 9 A.M.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 20 (7:05 vs. Auburn): Half-Price Wednesday presented by BIG Froggy 101...Health & Fitness Night...Acoustic Night with Sgt. Bob...College Student 3-2-1 Night

THURSDAY, AUGUST 21 (7:05 vs. Auburn): $1 Beer Night presented by 93.7 THE BUS...FIREWORKS Night presented by First National Bank & ESPN Radio 1450...Senior Citizens Night...Singles Night...College Student 3-2-1 Night

-SPIKES FINISH WITH TWIN BILL IN AUBURN: The State College Spikes head up to Falcon Park in Central New York to complete a three-game series against the Auburn Doubledays with a doubleheader after last night's rainout. The series will lead into the New York-Penn League All-Star break, after which the Doubledays will head to State College for a two-game mini-series on Wednesday and Thursday at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. The Spikes lead the New York-Penn League Pinckney Division by 6 1/2 games over Jamestown, and State College still has a magic number of eight to clinch their second consecutive Pinckney Division title. The Spikes have won five out of six games against the Doubledays so far this year, including a two-game sweep at Falcon Park July 7-9. All-time, State College is 43-43 against Auburn with a 21-22 mark at Falcon Park.

-LAST GAME: The State College Spikes scored eight runs in the eighth inning, capped off by Chase Raffield's three-run homer, to surge past the Auburn Doubledays, 8-1, on Friday night at Falcon Park for their third straight win.

State College started its eighth-inning rally with singles by Jhohan Acevedo and Robelys Reyes, followed by a Danny Diekroeger sacrifice fly. After Nick Thompson's infield single, Alex De Leon walked to load the bases. Jake Stone then knocked in a run with his single down the left-field line, and an error on the play scored another run to give the Spikes a 3-1 lead.

Following an intentional walk to Brett Wiley, Brian O'Keefe then increased the advantage with another bases-loaded single, with another error making it 5-1, Spikes. Raffield's fourth home run of the year, a towering shot to right on a 3-2 pitch, finished off the scoring.

The surge bolstered a strong State College pitching effort, starting with Daniel Poncedeleon. Poncedelon gave up just one run on two hits and two walks while striking out two over a career-long six innings of work.

Josh Lucas then earned the win with two perfect innings of relief, including two strikeouts. Jacob Booden finished the game with a 1-2-3 ninth, striking out two as well. The Spikes did not allow a baserunner after the fourth inning.

-SPIKES GIVE BALL TO NIELSEN, BAEZ: Right-hander Trey Nielsen makes his sixth start as a professional and 13th overall appearance for the Spikes today in Game One. Last time out, Nielsen allowed a career-high five runs on seven hits and a walk over three innings of work in a no-decision against Connecticut. Two outings ago, the Utah product lasted a career-long 4 1/3 innings and struck out six batters in a loss against Hudson Valley, despite yielding just one unearned run. Nielsen has gone 2-0 with a 2.70 ERA and his lone save in seven road appearances this year. Right-hander Fernando Baez will start Game Two.

-DOUBLEDAYS GO WITH MARTINEZ TONIGHT: Right-hander Anderson Martinez makes his sixth start for Auburn in today's first game. Martinez, a native of Barquisimento, Venezuela, earned his first win with the Doubledays last time out as he gave up two runs on five hits over six innings of work against Vermont. The righty also struck out two in the effort, and makes his fourth home start of the year this afternoon. Martinez is one of the 10 pitchers on the Auburn staff to have started his year with the GCL Nationals, where he went 2-0 with a 1.04 ERA over five appearances. Right-hander Luis Torres will start today's second game.

-FOUR SPIKES TABBED FOR NYPL ALL-STAR GAME: Four State College Spikes players will be featured in the New York-Penn League All-Star Game on Tuesday night. Shortstop Robelys Reyes and second baseman Darren Seferina will join pitchers Will Anderson and Kyle Grana on the South team for the NYPL's 10th annual Midsummer Classic at MCU Park in Brooklyn, NY.

-SPIKES, CARDINALS EXTEND PDC THROUGH 2016: The State College Spikes have announced a two-year extension of their Player Development Contract (PDC) with the defending National League champion St. Louis Cardinals. The extension maintains the affiliation between the Spikes and Cardinals through the 2016 New York-Penn League season.

-SPIKE MARKS: The Spikes' bullpen changes complexion after righties Jacob Booden and Tyler Bray were promoted to Single-A Peoria yesterday...Right-hander Kender Villegas also joins the Spikes from Rookie-level Johnson City, where he went 1-2 with a save and a 3.66 ERA over 19 appearances...Kyle Grana's 13.78 strikeouts per nine innings are second-most among NYPL relievers, and his 50 total whiffs are sixth-most in the league...Will Anderson is fourth in the league with a 2.31 ERA...Darren Seferina is now sixth in the NYPL in batting average at .308...Danny Diekroeger has an 11-game hit streak

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New York-Penn League Stories from August 17, 2014


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