Spikes' bats stifled in loss to Doubledays
STATE COLLEGE, PA - Dailyn Martinez delivered seven quality innings on the mound, and State College Spikes pitchers retired the last 16 batters they faced, but the Spikes were held to just one hit in a 3-1 loss to the Auburn Doubledays on Thursday night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.
The Spikes (33-31) now stand a game-and-a-half back of West Virginia in the New York-Penn League Wild Card race with 12 games remaining on the regular season schedule.
Martinez (3-5) yielded three runs over the first two innings, but gave up just six hits and a walk while striking out six batters in the loss. Anderson Franco put the Doubledays (29-34) out in front in the first with a two-run double. In the second inning, Martinez was called for his third balk of the game to score another Auburn run and make the score 3-0.
Doubledays starter Matthew Crownover (1-4) pitched five perfect innings for the win, striking out four batters on the night before leaving after 59 pitches, 44 of them for strikes.
The Spikes then mounted their biggest offensive effort in the sixth inning. Jose Godoy led off the frame with a walk to stop the perfect game, and R.J. Dennard followed with a ground ball single to right field for the lone State College hit of the night. Two batters later, Thomas Spitz's ground ball to third turned into an error that scored Godoy.
Max Almonte and Kender Villegas each faced just three batters in a single inning of work apiece to finish the game for the Spikes, but State College would get no closer.
Luis Torres (3) faced the minimum over three innings of relief, striking out three batters and earning the save.
The Spikes have now lost four straight games for the first time this season.
Friday, the Spikes meet the Doubledays in a 7:05 p.m. matchup at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park for the middle game of their three-game series. State College will send New York-Penn League All-Star right-hander Juan Perez (4-2) to the mound to face Auburn left-hander Taylor Hearn (1-5).
Fans can take advantage of the 4 for $44 Friday Northwest Family Value Ticket Package, presented by Northwest and MAJIC 99, with four of the best seats, four hot dogs and four small sodas available for just $44. Additional packages are just $11 each.
Kids 12 and under can also run the bases after the game thanks to Clinical Outcomes Group, Inc. on Health and Wellness Night at the ballpark.
In addition, college students across Central PA can enjoy even more value on Friday with the College 3-2-1 Special. The College 3-2-1 Special offers any college student presenting a valid student ID at ticket and concessions windows the following special offers:
- $3 Outfield Bleacher seats or $3 off seat in any other ballpark section, excluding Pepsi Picnic Pavilion and suites
- $2 medium sodas all game
- $1 hot dogs all game
Tickets for Friday's game, as well as each of the seven dates remaining on the Spikes' 10th Season home schedule, 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.
Fans can also purchase Four-Game Playoff Packs in anticipation of potential Spikes home games during the New York-Penn League playoffs, which begin on Wednesday, September 9. Playoff Packs start as low as $16 per seat and include as much as a $4 per game savings off the single-game price. In addition, each seat purchased as part of a Playoff Pack will come with a free, limited-edition 2015 Spikes playoff T-shirt while supplies last. For more information, and to order a Playoff Pack, call the Spikes Box Office at (814) 272-1711.
Catch all of the action on Friday via the Spikes Radio Network, presented by Penn State Hershey Medical Group, 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 the club's flagship radio home, 95.3 FM 3WZ, and on the 3WZ mobile apps, available on Google Play and the App Store.