Spikes take extra-inning win from 'Cutters
WILLIAMSPORT, PA - The State College Spikes went to extra innings for the first time since 2007 with the Williamsport Crosscutters, but a four-run explosion in the 11th frame gave the Spikes the juice they needed to capture a 7-3 victory on Tuesday night at Historic Bowman Field.
David Washington had they key hit in the 11th with a two-run double as eight hitters came to the plate for State College (1-1) in the game-winning rally. Alex De Leon's leadoff walk started the damage for the Spikes, and Jimmy Bosco worked another walk two batters later. Cesar Valera then delivered his fourth hit of the game to score pinch-runner Steven Ramos and put State College ahead, 4-3.
Washington followed with his double to left-center field, and Ronald Castillo capped off the inning with an RBI single to bring him in.
The Spikes had held the lead three times in the regulation nine innings, including a 3-2 advantage in the eighth inning. However. Zach Green, who drove in all three Williamsport (1-1) runs, homered to left field with one out in that stanza to tie the game and provide bonus baseball.
State College got things going early in the game as Valera got his big night going with a double in the first inning and scored on Bruce Caldwell's RBI single. After Green drove in the tying run in the bottom of the first with a ground-rule double, the Spikes responded with Luke Voit's RBI single in the second that brought in Carson Kelly. The base hit was Voit's first as a professional after being drafted in the 22nd round this year out of Missouri State University.
Green contributed another RBI double for the Crosscutters in the third inning to knot the game for the second time, but State College had another retort in the fifth inning as Bosco's single, Valera's double and an intentional walk to Washington set up Kelly for an bases-loaded RBI opportunity, which he took with his own base on balls to make it 3-2.
State College then outlasted Williamsport to earn its' first extra-inning win over the Crosscutters since July 4, 2007, when the Spikes took a 7-6 decision in 10 innings at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. Tuesday night's game also marked only the second time the two teams played 11 innings, the last occasion being on August 3, 2006 in a game the Spikes won, 3-2. State College is now 5-0 all-time in extra-inning games against Williamsport.
Valera finished the game 4-for-6 with two runs scored and one batted in. Washington went 2-for-5 with a pair of doubles and two runs batted in. Kelly also added a double for the Spikes.
Jeff Rauh (1-0) earned the victory after closing out the game with two scoreless innings in which he yielded just one walk and struck out the three. Spikes starter Chris Perry went four-plus innings, allowing two runs, one earned, on six hits and two walks while striking out three. Victor DeLeon also had a strong game in relief despite allowing Green's home run, punching out four in three innings of work. State College pitchers combined for 12 strikeouts in the game.
Williamsport reliever Lino Martinez (0-1) took the loss after giving up all four Spikes runs in the eleventh. Martinez lasted 2 2/3 innings total and yielded four hits and two walks over that time.
Wednesday, the Spikes and Crosscutters finish up their three-game set as the setting moves back to Medlar Field at Lubrano Park with a 7:05 p.m. matchup. State College will have a "piggyback" setup on the mound, with left-hander Jimmy Reed (0-0), the Cardinals' sixth-round draft pick in 2013, being followed by right-hander Kevin Herget (0-0), who the Cardinals chose in the 39th round this year.
Williamsport will go with right-hander Joshua Warner (0-0) on the mound. Warner faced the Spikes twice in 2012, going six shutout innings for the win on June 18 before giving up six runs, five earned, over five innings in a loss on July 19.
The fun continues at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park as the first 1,000 fans of all ages will receive their very own Super Ike Action Figurine, and it's the first Half-Price Wednesday of the year, presented by BIG Froggy 101. Fans can purchase half-price Outfield Bleacher tickets, and then enjoy $2.50 select 16-ounce domestic draft beers from 6-8 p.m. as well as half-price medium sodas all game long.
Tickets for Wednesday's game, as well as every Spikes home game on the 2013 slate, 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 Wednesday via the Spikes Radio Network, presented by Penn State Sports Medicine, at 6:35 p.m. with Spikes Live, presented by Mount Nittany Health, on the air from Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. The Spikes' radio broadcast can also be heard worldwide through the "Listen Live" link on StateCollegeSpikes.com, provided by 95.3 FM 3WZ.