State College Spikes �11, �Jamestown Jammers �7 (box)
The Spikes scored in each of the first four innings, including two 4-run spots, and would not let the Jammers catch up. �DH Chase Lyles got the Spikes started with a 2-run homer after LF Adalberto Santos’ double in the top of the 1st. �C Matt Skirving scored an unearned run in the 2nd inning, when he led off with a single, moved to third on a fielding error, and scored on a sacrifice fly by CF Kyle Saukko.
Four runs came across the plate in the 3rd. �Three consecutive walks, to Santos, Lyles, and 3B Kelson Brown, along with a balk and a passed ball, got the inning started and scored Santos. �A wild pitch brought Lyles in. �Then 2B Gift Ngoepe tripled, bringing in Brown. �Ngoepe scored on another wild pitch, this time by another pitcher, and the Spikes led 7-0.
More walks added another 4 runs in the 4th, which began looking rather similar to the 3rd, because the Spikes had batted around. �This time it was six straight walks — Santos, Lyles, Brown, Ngoepe, Skirving, and 1B Gerlis Rodriguez. �That was three runs forced in, and a new pitcher. �An RBI ground out brought in the 4th run of the inning, and the Spikes’ 11th of the game.
Zack Dodson made the start for the Spikes. �He gave up a walk in each of the first two innings, then allowed two runs in the 3rd on a triple and a sacrifice fly, then two walks and an RBI single. Mitchell Fienemann earned his first win of the season, though he allowed 5 runs (4 earned) on 5 hits and a walk in 3.2 innings. �Two runs scored in the 5th on a walk, a passed ball, a throwing error, a double, and an RBI ground out. �A 3-run homer brought the Jammers a little closer in the 7th. �But Justin Ennis finished the 7th for Fienemann, then pitched two scoreless innings to finish the game.
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GCL Tigers �6, �GCL Pirates �0 (box)
The Pirates’ bats had run out of hits after yesterday’s hit-a-thon, but the Tigers’ bats hadn’t. �The Pirates were limited to just 5 hits, �plus 3 walks today, and none of those base runners were able to come around and score. �Three of the hits belonged to RF Gregory Polanco — singles in the 2nd, 4th, and 9th. �The other two hits, both singles, came in the 7th. �3B Eric Avila led off with a single to center, and he went to 2nd on DH Joey Schoenfeld’s line drive into center. �Both were left on base when a strikeout and a ground out ended the inning. �The Pirates also had 2 walks in the 6th inning, to LF Junior Sosa and C Elias Diaz, but again both were left stranded.
Starter Bryce Weidman, the Pirates’ 14th round pick in the 2010 draft, made his pro debut today. �He pitched 2 innings. �In the 1st, he gave up a lead-off walk, but immediately erased that base runner with a double play. �Weidman gave up a run in the 2nd inning, on a hit batter, a sacrifice bunt, a ground out, and an RBI single. �Joely Rodriguez replaced Weidman for the 3rd inning. �He pitched four scoreless innings, allowing a walk and two singles. �Then in the 7th, Rodriguez opened the inning with two singles, a strikeout, and a runner caught stealing, then another single. �Rodriguez was relieved by Yeyber Sanchez, who gave up two more singles, driving in a total of 3 runs in the inning. �Sanchez kept the Tigers from scoring in the 8th, but gave up a double, a walk, and a single for 2 runs in the top of the 9th. �Dinesh Patel relieved Sanchez and got the final two outs with a strikeout and a grounder.
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Binghamton Mets �9, �Altoona Curve �5 (box)
The Curve could not catch up after a 6-run explosion by the Mets in the 3rd. �The Curve had scored one run in the 1st on CF Gorkys Hernandez’s triple and 3B Josh Harrison’s sacrifice fly. �They added another run in the 2nd when 2B Jordy Mercer led off with a single, stole second, moved to third on a ground out, and scored on RF Miles Durham’s single into right field.
The Mets caught up in the bottom of the 2nd, as starter Jared Hughes gave up a walk, two singles, a wild pitch, and a sacrifice fly. �The score was tied at 2-2 going into the bottom of the third, when two key errors gave the game away. �The first batter of the inning reached base on a fielding error by SS Chase d’Arnaud. Two singles loaded the bases. �The first run scored on a fielding error by Durham in right field, and the second run came in on a sacrifice fly. �After a walk, Mets’ RF Raul Reyes belted a grand slam, and the Mets had 6 unearned runs. �(If the two errors had been two outs, then the inning would have been: out, single, single, out, fly out, and no runs would have scored.) �The Mets added another run in the 4th, on a double, a single, and a sacrifice fly. Hughes was responsible for all 9 runs (only 3 earned), on 8 hits and 2 walks, for his 4th loss of the season.
The Curve scored only three more times. �D’Arnaud homered to lead off the 5th (his second of the season). �Durham began the 7th inning by being hit by a pitch. �Pinch-hitter Anthony Norman walked, and d’Arnaud singled, driving in Durham. �Harrison’s single brought in Norman, but that was all the Curve would get.
Three Curve pitchers kept the Mets scoreless for the last 4 innings of the game. �Mike Dubee pitched 2 perfect innings, including a strikeout. �Ramon Aguero, just up from Bradenton, gave up only a double in his inning. Dustin Molleken retired the side in order in the 8th.
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Delmarva Shorebirds �4, �West Virginia Power �3 (box)
The Power went into the 8th inning trailing 3-2, and they tied the game on a single by CF Evan Chambers and an RBI double by 2B�Jarek Cunningham. RF David Rubinstein tried to add an insurance run, as he reached base on a fielder’s choice (Cunningham out at third), stole second, then raced around on a single by 1B Aaron Baker. But the throw in from center field was on-target and on time, and Baker was out at the plate.
The 9th inning began with the score tied, and reliever Mike Williams on the mound for the Power. �The first Shorebirds’ batter singled, then moved to second base on a bunt. �A fielding error by Baker at first allowed the runner to score from second base, and Delmarva had the lead.
The Power’s attempt to tie it again in the bottom of the inning fell short. �C Ramon Cabrera reached base on a fielding error at short, and he was sacrifice bunted to second by 3B Jesus Brito. Pinch-hitter Pat Irvine walked, but Evan Chambers struck out to end the game.
The Power had scored their first two runs in the first two innings. �Rubinstein was hit by a pitch in the 1st, then scored on Baker’s RBI double. �Brito’s solo homer in the 2nd gave the Power their second run.
Starter Kyle McPherson gave up a triple and a 2-run homer in the 2nd inning, then an unearned run in the 6th. �After a walk, a fielding error by SS Elevys Gonzalez, and a single loaded the bases, a walk brought in the run. �Gabriel Alvarado finished the 6th inning, and gave up a single in the 7th, which was immediately erased by a double play.
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