NYPL State College Spikes

Spikes Game Notes

Published on July 3, 2007 under New York-Penn League (NYPL)
State College Spikes News Release


BATAVIA MUCKDOGS (5-9) @ STATE COLLEGE SPIKES (9-5)

Tuesday, July 3rd - 7:05 PM

Medlar Field at Lubrano Park - University Park, PA

Game #15 / Home Game # 7

RHP Brandon Garner (1-0, 6.35) vs. RHP Dionis Rodriguez (1-0, 2.38)

TONIGHT'S STARTER: RHP Dionis Rodriguez will make his third start for the Spikes this evening, after spending some time earlier this season with the Hickory Crawdads (SAL - A) and the Lynchburg Hillcats (CAR - A). In five games with Hickory, Rodriguez went 0-2 and had a 10.80 ERA. In his first start with the Spikes, which was against Jamestown, Rodriguez got the win after allowing only one run through seven innings of work. Prior to this season, Dionis had a career record of 11-16, but had struck out 246 batters in 196.2 career innings of work. Conversely, he had walked only 46 batters.

TONIGHT'S OPPONENT: RHP Brandon Gardner will make his fourth appearance of the 2007 season and his second start when he takes the mound tonight. Garner is a 20-year old from Huron, Michigan and was selected out of Yale High School in Michigan with the Cardinal's 18th round selection in the June 2005 MLB Draft. Garner has been touched up in his three appearances this season. The opening day starter for the Muckdogs this year, Garner gave up six runs in just 2.1 innings of work while giving up eight hits. He won his only game of the year, in his only start, which was against State College in the first game of a three game series at Dwyer Field on June 25. In 5.0 innings, Garner held the Spikes to five hits while giving up just one earned run. Garner was originally selected in 2005 as a shortstop and hit .181 with five RBI in 35 games with Johnson City in 2005.

LAST NIGHT'S GAME: The Spikes continue their torrid stretch as they won their seventh consecutive game last night, besting Batavia 1-0. Starter Matt Foust pitched six scoreless innings. Releiver Taylor Cameron (2-0) got the win in relief after pitching a scoreless seventh and eighth while Ron Uviedo got his second save. Pinch-runner James Barksdale scored the only run of the game in the bottom of the eighth inning on a wild pitch.

DOMINANCE OF THE ‘DOGS: Of the Spikes seven consecutive wins so far, four of them have come against Batavia. State College leads the all-time series against Batavia 9-5 (including 4-1 this year). Should the Spikes win tonight, State College would already assure themselves a winning record against Batavia for the rest of the 2007 season.

WE'RE GOING STREAKING: The State College Spikes have won their last seven games and have outscored opponents 41-18 during the stretch. In those seven games, the Spikes have 23 extra base hits. The longest winning streak in State College Spikes history is seven games (8/7/06 - 8/13/06). In the five games prior to the Spikes hot streak, the team went 1-4 and hit .226 with only 15 runs scored on 36 hits, 12 of which went for extra bases.

TWO GOOD: How good was the Spikes' pitching staff last night? The trio of Matt Foust, Taylor Cameron and Ron Uviedo did not allow a Batavia Muckdogs to reach second base. Last night Foust, Cameron and Uviedo only faced three batters over the minimum without having a double play turned behind them.

LET'S START IN THE BEGINNING: Over the last seven games, the Spikes starting pitchers have been a large reason for their success. In 36.1innings of work, they have allowed only seven earned runs for a 1.72 ERA.

CLOSE ONES: Last night's 1-0 victory against Batavia was only the third time State College has been involved in a 1-0 game. The Spikes are 3-0 in 1-0 games. Last year, State College beat Batavia 1-0 on September 4 in a eight innings (second game of a double-header). The Spikes were the home-team in the game however, as the previous night's game in State College was rained out. The Spikes also bested the Vermont LakeMonsters 1-0 on August 12. Kyle Sadlowski pitched 8.0 scoreless innings and Luke Gregerson got the save while holding the LakeMonsters to just six hits. Willian Sandoval drove in the only run of the game, scoring Yonathan Sivira on a suicide squeeze.

GET AHEAD, STAY AHEAD: Should the Spikes get on the board first tonight, it would be a good omen. State College is 6-1 when scoring first. The bullpen for State College has also done a fantastic job holding down leads, as the Spikes are 7-0 when leading after seven innings.

SHUT ‘EM DOWN OPEN UP SHOP: The two-headed closer tandem for the Spikes has been outstanding in 2007. Ron Uviedo and Adam Simon are a combined 5-for-5 in save opportunities this year. Uviedo has three saves, Simon has two.

HOT AND COLD: During the seven game winning streak, the Spikes have had quite a few players on a tear. Over the last five games in particular, Matt Cavagnaro is swinging the bat at a .409 (9-for-22) clip. Keanon Simon has hit .417 (5-for-12) and Michael Ambrose is five for his last 10. Conversely, Erik Huber (.000, 0-for-7), Smelin Perez (.158, 3-for-19) and Marcus Davis (.231, 3-for-13) have cooled off.

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