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State College Spikes

Spikes Game Notes

July 26, 2007 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
State College Spikes News Release


State College Spikes (17-17) vs. Aberdeen Ironbirds (16-18)

Thursday, July 26 - 7:05 PM

Medlar Field at Lubrano Park University Park, PA

Game # 35 / Home Game # 18

RHP Nicolas Suero (0-2, 3.38) vs. RHP Zachary Jevne (2-2, 2.83)

SPIKES' STARTER: RHP NICOLAS SUERO will make his fifth start of the year and his seventh appearance overall for the 2007 season. Suero comes in to tonight's start with a 1-2 mark and a 3.86 ERA. The Elias Pinas, DR native hasn't won since his first game he appeared in versus Williamsport on June 19 when he went 5.0 scoreless innings. Suero is trying to snap a personal two-game losing streak, as he dropped decisions against Brooklyn (7/15) and Staten Island (7/20). In each of Suero's starts this year, the righty has pitched 5.0 innings or more. Suero has struck out 22 batters and has not issued a walk all year through 30.1 innings of work.

ABERDEEN STARTER: RHP ZACHARY JEVNE will make his seventh start of the year. Jevne comes into tonight's start with an overall record of 2-2, sporting a 2.83 ERA, which ranks him ninth among NYPL pitchers. Jevne has won two of his last three decisions and has displayed impeccable control all year, striking out 29 and walking just six batters in 28.2 innings of work. Jevne was the Orioles 27th round draft pick in 2006 out of Northern Iowa University and spent all of last year with Bluefield of the Rookie League. With Bluefield, Jevne went 2-3 with a 4.27 ERA in 17 games (two starts).

LAST NIGHT'S GAMES: The State College Spikes (17-17) split a double-header with the Aberdeen Ironbirds (16-18) Wednesday evening at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, grabbing the first game 5-2, and dropping the nightcap in extra frames, 5-4. Tony Watson improved his record to 6-0 in the first game, by tossing 5.0 scoreless innings. The Spikes are now 7-0 when Watson toes the rubber. In the nightcap, Matt Foust started the game, but struggled with his control. The former Nebraska Cornhusker allowed a season high five walks in just 3.0 innings pitched, but came away with a no decision

TRAFFIC UPDATE: Fans coming to Medlar Field at Lubrano Park should be advised that starting July 27, the East bound lane of Park Avenue will be closed to through traffic between Shortlidge Road and Bigler Road to allow for excavation and installation of a utility tunnel for the Dickinson School of Law. Flagmen and temporary signals will be available to assist with traffic. The suggested detour to Medlar Field at Lubrano Park from Park Avenue is to:

- Turn Right on to Shortlidge

- Turn Left at stop sign on to Curtain Road and follow Curtain Road to Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.

SCOUTING THE IRONBIRDS: The Aberdeen Ironbirds are guided by Andy Etchebarren, who enters his second year at Aberdeen after spending over 40 years as a player, coach, instructor and manager in the Orioles organization as one of the best backstops in Birds' history. Etchebarren was the Orioles catcher from 1962-1974, playing with the likes of Boog Powell, Jim Palmer and Brooks Robinson. He has also managed at every level of the minor league within the Orioles system, and also served as Baltimore's roving catching instructor Aberdeen is led by Jedidiah Stephen (.362, 2 HR, 10 RBIs) and Matt Angle (.288...17 stolen bases in 19 tries) offensively.

BIG LEAGUE SIGHTINGS: When Sean Tracey toed the rubber for the Aberdeen Ironbirds in relief last night, he quietly made Medlar Field at Lubrano Park history. Tracey is the first player with big-league experience to ever play at MF @ LP. The Spikes have had players move on to the big leagues that have played at the ballpark (i.e. Josh Hamilton, Joe Smith and Brendan Ryan), however, Tracey is the only former big-leaguer to play against the Spikes this year, after pitching in seven games for the Chicago White Sox in 2006. Tracey was the eighth round pick of the White Sox in the June 2002 draft out of the University of California - Irvine. The Aberdeen Ironbirds have had a number of former big-leaguers rehab with them this season. Bubba Trammell, who played in the MLB with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays played nine games with Aberdeen this year and hit .143 (4-for-69), while catcher Ramon Hernandez, played two games with the Ironbirds and hit .500 (2-for-4) while drawing four walks and going 1/1 in stolen bases. Neither are currently with the club.

POWER OUTAGE AT MF@LP: Matt Cavagnaro's two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth inning in the second game of last night's double header was just the third homer all year the Spikes have hit with runners on base. It is also the first home run the Spikes have hit at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park since Michael Ambrose went deep against Williamsport on July 4. MR CLUTCH: Even though the Spikes as a team have hit only .206 with runners in scoring position, Austin McClune and Keanon Simon in particular have been clutch all year. Simon has hit .500 with runners in scoring position this year, while McClune has swung the bat at a .486 clip. Conversely, Bobby Spain is hitting a mere .040 in 25 at-bats with runners in scoring position.

PUT ON YOUR GREEN HAT, WE'RE GOING STREAKING: Even though Keanon Simon's seven game hitting streak was snapped with an 0-for-3 performance last night, Simon still did reach base, and has done so in his last eight games. Also, Smelin Perez has started to heat up of late, as the Spikes' utility infielder is riding a four game hit streak.. In three of those four games, Perez has collected multiple hits. Perez is hitting .533 (8-for15) over his last five games.

PIRATES AFILLIATE REPORT: PITTSBURGH (42-58) won at New York (Mets) earlier this afternoon, 8-4. Paul Maholm notched his seventh victory of the year as Xavier Nady and Josh Phelps each had three RBIs...INDIANAPOLIS (52-51) won at Columbus, 6-4. RHP John Wasdin (1-1, 6.37) lasted only two-thirds of an inning and allowed three runs on three hits...ALTOONA (52-49) lost to Binghamton, 7-2. LHP Josh Shortslef (2-11, 5.06) allowed five runs in four innings. LF Jason Delaney (.348) hit his 16th home run...HICKORY (49-52) beat Lake County, 4-3. RHP Mike Crotta (6-5, 4.73) allowed one run in seven innings...BRADENTON (13-17) lost to the Twins, 6-2. LHP Eddy Nunez (2-2, 3.54) allowed runs in innings. LF Ciro Rosero (.283) went 3 for 5 with a double and RBI.

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