NYPL State College Spikes

Vasquez Flashes Leather, But Spikes Drop 4-1 Decision

Published on August 6, 2012 under New York-Penn League (NYPL)
State College Spikes News Release


STATE COLLEGE, PA - Jesus Vasquez made plays all over the field on Monday night, contributing two outfield assists and a diving catch while scoring the State College Spikes' only run. However, a three-run first inning proved to be enough for the Aberdeen IronBirds to take a 4-1 victory over the Spikes at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.

State College (25-23) had its problems on offense early thanks to Aberdeen (20-28) starter Kevin Gausman. Gausman, the fourth overall pick in the 2012 MLB Draft, made his mark during his professional debut for the IronBirds. The LSU product retired all nine batters he faced over the first three innings, with a pair of strikeouts. Gausman also became the highest-drafted player to ever start a game at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.

Reliever Cameron Coffey (2-5) followed by recording four more outs before Chris Diaz walked with one out in the fifth to break up the combined perfect game.

Clario Perez (0-3) also had early difficulties on the mound for the Spikes, allowing four straight hits and three runs to start the game. However, Perez settled down to retire nine straight batters at one point and hold the IronBirds scoreless for the rest of his mound tenure. The right-hander added four strikeouts as well, but suffered the defeat.

Vasquez also helped Perez to calm the Aberdeen attack with a pair of laser throws from right field. In the second inning, Vasquez completed a double play by rifling a throw home to get Dudley Leonora and end the frame. The native Dominican then brought a close to another inning in the fifth inning when he erased Creede Simpson on Simpson's attempt to advance to third. Vasquez then completed a trifecta of brilliant defensive plays with a diving catch to rob Lucas Herbst of a sure base hit in the seventh inning.

Aberdeen scored again, though, on an RBI single by Scott Kalush in the same frame to take a 4-0 lead before State College put together its only offensive burst of the game. Vasquez started it with a leadoff double to right field, then stole third base. Samuel Gonzalez followed with a sacrifice fly to plate the Spikes' lone run.

Jimmy Rider also produced his first extra-base hit as a Spike, doubling in the sixth inning for the Spikes' first hit.

Coffey got the win for the IronBirds with five innings of one-run relief. The left-hander gave up a total of two hits and two walks while striking out three. Tom Winegardner (4) picked up the save for the second straight night with a perfect ninth inning in which he struck out one.

Herbst, who earned New York-Penn League Player of the Week honors for July 30-August 5 prior to the game, went 2-for-4 at the plate with a two-run, first-inning double.

Tuesday, the Spikes take to the road to start a six-night, three-town swing through Upstate New York, with a 7:05 p.m. matchup against the Batavia Muckdogs (St. Louis Cardinals) at Dwyer Stadium. State College will start with two games in Batavia before a pair in Auburn and the last two contests in Jamestown.

19-year-old right-hander Clay Holmes (4-1), who was originally slated to start on Monday before a shuffling of the Spikes rotation, gets the ball on Tuesday for State College. Holmes leads the New York-Penn League in both earned run average (0.94) and opponents' batting average (.138). Batavia will go with left-hander Ben Freeman (2-2).

After the road trip, the Spikes will head into the New York-Penn League All-Star break, with the All-Star Game set for Tuesday, August 14 at Eastwood Field in Niles, OH. Spikes representatives on the National League squad for the NYPL Midsummer Classic are yet to be announced.

The Spikes will then head back home to Medlar Field at Lubrano Park for a four-game homestand beginning on Wednesday, August 15. State College will take on the Jamestown Jammers (Miami Marlins) for a two-game set that includes a Canvas Print Giveaway presented by The Spa at Kenlee to the first 1,000 fans of all ages on the 15th and Bark in the Park II presented by Metzger Animal Hospital on the 16th.

Tickets for the Spikes' homestand from August 15-18, as well as every Spikes regular season home game in 2012, are currently on sale through the Spikes Box Office by calling (814) 272-1711 or by visiting in person. Fans can also buy and print single-game tickets by visiting StateCollegeSpikes.com.

Catch all of the action on Tuesday via the Spikes Radio Network, presented by Penn State Sports Medicine, at 6:50 p.m. with the Spikes GameDay Show live from Dwyer Stadium. The Spikes' radio broadcast can also be heard worldwide through the "Listen Live" link on StateCollegeSpikes.com, provided by 95.3 FM 3WZ.

Check out the State College Spikes Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



New York-Penn League Stories from August 6, 2012


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central