Pitch By Pitch

The Spikes saw their 4th consecutive 1-run game last night, but this time they managed to score the win.

Tyler Cox gave up 6 hits and a walk in 5 innings, but he left allowing just 1 run. Brandon Holden, Diego Moreno, and Alan Knotts shut things down in the 7th, 8th, and 9th.

Tony Sanchez went 1-4 and scored 1 of the Spikes’ 2 runs. David Rubinstein went 2-5 and scored the other.

The Spikes have gone 1-2 in both of their first two series’. They look for their first series win, starting tonight, against the Auburn Doubledays.

     Game of 6/24/2009 -- State College at Mahoning Valley (N)

  State College      AB  R  H RBI    Mahoning Valley    AB  R  H RBI  
Holt B, 2b            5  0  1  0   Henry J, cf           3  0  2  0   
Vasquez A, ss         5  0  0  0   Greenwell B, lf       4  0  0  0   
Sanchez T, c          4  1  1  0   Bellows K, 3b         3  1  1  0   
Byler J, 1b           4  0  0  0   Allman J, dh          4  0  2  0   
Rubinstein D, rf      5  1  2  0   Smit J, 1b            4  0  2  1   
Parry C, dh           3  0  2  1   Folgia G, rf          3  0  1  0   
Hernandez J, lf       1  0  0  0   Smith K, ss           4  0  1  0   
Garcia E, ph-lf       1  0  0  0   Vera R, 2b            4  0  0  0   
Irvine P, 3b          3  0  2  1   Childs D, c           1  0  0  0   
Saukko K, cf          3  0  0  0   Basabe L, ph          1  0  0  0   
                                   Chen C, c             0  0  0  0   
                                   Johnson J, p          0  0  0  0   
                     -- -- -- --                        -- -- -- --
                     34  2  8  2                        31  1  9  1   

State College    011 000 000 --  2
Mahoning Valley  000 100 000 --  1

  State College        IP  H  R ER BB SO
Cox T (W)             5.0  6  1  1  1  5
Holden B              1.0  1  0  0  0  0
Moreno D              2.0  1  0  0  0  2
Knotts A (S)          1.0  1  0  0  0  1

  Mahoning Valley      IP  H  R ER BB SO
Anthony R (L)         3.0  5  2  2  2  2
Mead K                3.0  1  0  0  3  5
Adams A               2.0  2  0  0  0  2
Johnson J             1.0  0  0  0  0  1

E -- Bellows K
DP -- State College 3, Mahoning Valley 1
LOB -- State College 12, Mahoning Valley 7
2B -- Allman J, Sanchez T, Bellows K
SB -- Hernandez J
SH -- Folgia G, Henry J
SF -- Parry C
HBP -- by Cox T (Childs D), by Mead K (Hernandez J)
WP -- Mead K
PB -- Childs D, Chen C
T -- 2:58
A -- 2066

The Spikes lost their 3rd consecutive 1-run game, as the Mahoning Valley Scrappers outlasted State College 2-1. Michael Felix, Marc Baca, and Mike Williams combined to allow just 5 hits, and they struck out 6 Scrappers’ batters.

In the top of the 3rd inning, Andy Vasquez singled with 1 out. Tony Sanchez followed with a ground ball to shortstop that could have been a double-play ball. An error on the second baseman kept the inning alive. Kyle Morgan tripled to score Sanchez and give the Spikes the lead.

The bottom of the 6th, started the Marc Baca hitting Jason Smit with a pitch. A Roberto Perez double scored Baca and Jordan Henry hit a ball to third baseman, Freizer Pedron. A Pedron error allowed Perez to score the go-ahead run.

     Game of 6/23/2009 -- State College at Mahoning Valley (N)

  State College      AB  R  H RBI    Mahoning Valley    AB  R  H RBI  
Holt B, 2b            4  0  1  0   Basabe L, 2b          3  0  1  0   
Vasquez A, ss         3  0  1  0   Greenwell B, lf       2  0  0  0   
Sanchez T, c          4  1  2  0   Bellows K, 3b         4  0  2  0   
Morgan K, 1b          4  0  1  1   Allman J, rf          4  0  1  0   
Rubinstein D, rf      4  0  0  0   Smit J, 1b            3  1  0  0   
Irvine P, lf          4  0  0  0   Chen C, dh            4  0  0  0   
Rosero C, dh          3  0  0  0   Smith K, ss           4  0  0  0   
Byler J, ph           1  0  0  0   Perez R, c            3  1  1  1   
Pedron F, 3b          3  0  1  0   Henry J, cf           3  0  0  0   
Parry C, ph           1  0  0  0   
Garcia E, cf          3  0  1  0   
                     -- -- -- --                        -- -- -- --
                     34  1  7  1                        30  2  5  1   

State College    001 000 000 --  1
Mahoning Valley  000 002 00x --  2

  State College        IP  H  R ER BB SO
Felix M               4.0  3  0  0  1  2
Baca M (L)            2.0  2  2  1  1  1
Williams M            2.0  0  0  0  0  3

  Mahoning Valley      IP  H  R ER BB SO
Popham M              5.0  6  1  0  1  4
Kirk N (W)            3.0  1  0  1  0  4
Burns C (S)           1.0  0  0  0  0  3

E -- Felix M, Pedron F 2, Sanchez T, Basabe L
DP -- State College 1
LOB -- State College 7, Mahoning Valley 8
2B -- Perez R
3B -- Morgan K
SB -- Smit J
CS -- Basabe L, Chen C
HBP -- by Felix M (Basabe L), by Baca M (Smit J)
PB -- Sanchez T
T -- 2:35
A -- 4682

Over the past few days, the Pirates have continued to sign their 2009 draft picks, and they now have a total of 12 signings.

1st Rounder, Tony Sanchez signed, and he has been playing for State College.
1st Round Supplemental Pick, Victor Black signed, and he will be assigned to State College.
2nd Rounder, Brooks Pounders signed, and he will be assigned to the Gulf Coast League.
9th Rounder, Brock Holt signed, and he will be assigned to State College.
11th Rounder, Aaron Baker signed.
21st Rounder, Philip Irwin signed.
23rd Round – Jose Hernandez signed and has been playing for State College.
24th Round – Jason Erickson signed and has been playing for State College.
30th Round – Ty Summerlin signed and has been playing for State College.
33rd Round – Patrick Irvine signed and has been playing for State College.
42nd Round – Marc Baca signed and has been playing for State College.
43rd Rounder, Ed Fallon signed.

Also of note, the Pirates 2008 1st round draft pick, Pedro Alvarez, has been promoted to AA-Altoona. He will make his AA debut on Tuesday night. Dustin Molleken, Michael Dubee, and Miles Durham will join Alvarez in Altoona.

Brad Lincoln was promoted to AAA-Indianapolis.

The State College Spikes finished their 3 game series against the Williamsport Crosscutters tonight. The Spikes are still looking for their first win at Medlar Field.

After falling behind 4-0 after the first 5 innings, the Spikes’ rallied in the bottom of the 7th to score 3 runs, but it would end there. The Cutters held on to win by the 4-3 final.

Tony Sanchez played six innings and went 0-3.

The Spikes now hit the road for a series against the Mahoning Valley Scrappers.

     Game of 6/21/2009 -- Williamsport at State College (N)

  Williamsport       AB  R  H RBI    State College      AB  R  H RBI  
Dabbs M, rf           5  0  3  0   Garcia E, lf          4  1  2  1   
Castro L, cf          4  1  1  0   Vasquez A, ss         5  1  1  0   
Barnes J, ss          5  1  1  0   Sanchez T, c          3  0  0  0   
Batts S, 1b           4  2  2  3   Parry C, c            2  0  0  0   
Warren T, lf          5  0  3  1   Morgan K, 1b          3  0  1  0   
Hewitt A, 3b          4  0  1  0   Byler J, ph-1b        1  0  0  0   
Rodriguez J, c        4  0  0  0   Payne M, 3b           5  0  0  1   
Porter E, 2b          4  0  1  0   Rosero C, cf          3  0  0  1   
Uhl C, dh             4  0  0  0   Irvine P, dh          2  0  0  0   
                                   Hernandez J, ph-dh    1  0  0  0   
                                   Biela B, rf           2  1  0  0   
                                   Willemburg B, 2b      3  0  0  0   
                                   Summerlin T, 2b       1  0  1  0   
                     -- -- -- --                        -- -- -- --
                     39  4 12  4                        35  3  5  3   

Williamsport     300 010 000 --  4
State College    000 000 300 --  3

  Williamsport         IP  H  R ER BB SO
Ballestas F           3.2  2  0  0  1  5
Arroyo S (W)          2.1  0  0  0  2  1
Lugo E                0.2  2  3  3  1  0
Jimenez E             1.1  1  0  0  1  2
Hyatt A               1.0  0  0  0  0  2

  State College        IP  H  R ER BB SO
Pereira N (L)         3.0  6  3  3  1  4
Paulino R             4.0  4  1  1  0  3
Erickson J            2.0  2  0  0  0  1

E -- Ballestas F, Barnes J, Vasquez A
LOB -- Williamsport 10, State College 11
2B -- Hewitt A, Dabbs M 2, Batts S
HR -- Batts S
SB -- Warren T, Dabbs M, Biela B
CS -- Warren T
HBP -- by Jimenez E (Byler J), by Erickson J (Batts S)
WP -- Pereira N, Arroyo S, Lugo E
Balk -- Paulino R
PB -- Sanchez T
T -- 3:15
A -- 4486

The State College Spikes played the 2nd game of their season tonight, and they beat the Williamsport Crosscutters 4-3. Pirates’ #1 draft pick, Tony Sanchez, entered the game in the bottom of the 6th inning. In the top of the 9th inning, with runners on 1st and 2nd, Sanchez hit a go-ahead single that turned out to be the game-winner.

Jose Hernandez, the Pirates’ #23 draft pick had a nice game, going 3-4, with 2 singles and a double.

     Game of 6/20/2009 -- State College at Williamsport (N)

  State College      AB  R  H RBI    Williamsport       AB  R  H RBI  
Summerlin T, 2b       5  0  0  0   James J, cf           4  0  1  0   
Willemburg B, ss      5  1  1  0   Castro L, rf          4  1  1  0   
Irvine P, dh          4  0  0  0   Barnes J, ss          3  2  2  2   
Byler J, 1b           3  1  2  1   Murillo F, 1b         4  0  1  0   
Rubinstein D, rf      4  1  1  0   Dabbs M, dh           4  0  3  1   
Payne M, 3b           3  0  0  1   Hewitt A, 3b          3  0  0  0   
Hernandez J, lf       4  1  3  0   Porter E, 2b          4  0  2  0   
Saukko K, cf          4  0  1  0   Doss D, c             4  0  0  0   
Mendez M, c           2  0  0  0   Uhl C, lf             4  0  0  0   
Sanchez T, c          2  0  1  1   
                     -- -- -- --                        -- -- -- --
                     36  4  9  3                        34  3 10  3   

State College    000 003 001 --  4
Williamsport     200 001 000 --  3

  State College        IP  H  R ER BB SO
Miller Q              4.0  5  2  2  0  2
Moreno D              3.0  3  1  1  1  2
Williams M (W)        2.0  2  0  0  0  1

  Williamsport         IP  H  R ER BB SO
Pettibone J           5.0  2  0  0  1  6
Simon R               1.0  4  3  3  0  0
Wertz L               2.0  0  0  0  0  2
Ellis J (L)           1.0  3  1  1  0  2

E -- Hewitt A
DP -- State College 2
LOB -- State College 7, Williamsport 6
2B -- Castro L, Byler J, Rubinstein D, Hernandez J
3B -- Porter E
HR -- Barnes J
SB -- Barnes J, Dabbs M, Saukko K
CS -- James J
SF -- Payne M
HBP -- by Miller Q (Barnes J)
WP -- Simon R
Balk -- Simon R
PB -- Doss D
T -- 2:38
A -- 1725

Four errors and a whole lot of hits in two disastrous innings doomed the State College Spikes on their opening night against the Williamsport Crosscutters. The Cutters got 8 hits in the top of the 5th, and they took advantage of a Spikes’ error and hit-by-pitch to score 8 runs and blow the game wide open. They added 5 more hits and 5 more runs in the top of the 9th to complete their destruction of the Baby Bucs.

Friday night’s game at sold-out Medlar Field at Lubrano Park featured some of the Pirates’ 2008 draft picks and some of the 2009 draft picks that have already signed with the club.

2008
11th Round – David Rubinstein
34th Round – Matthew Payne
35th Round – Tyler Cox
36th Round – Kyle Morgan
38th Round – Alan Knotts
39th Round – Albert Fagan
50th Round – Craig Parry

2009
23rd Round – Jose Hernandez
24th Round – Jason Erickson
30th Round – Ty Summerlin
33rd Round – Patrick Irvine
42nd Round – Marc Baca

Pirates’ first round draft pick, Tony Sanchez, will join the team today in Williamsport where they will finish out the final two games of the opening series.

     Game of 6/19/2009 -- Williamsport at State College (N)

  Williamsport       AB  R  H RBI    State College      AB  R  H RBI  
James J, cf           5  1  1  0   Garcia E, cf          3  1  1  0   
Castro L, lf          6  2  5  2   Hernandez J, ph-lf    1  0  0  0   
Barnes J, ss          6  1  2  1   Vasquez A, ss         3  0  2  0   
Murillo F, 1b         5  2  2  3   Willemburg B, ss      0  0  0  0   
Batts S, 2b           4  2  1  1   Byler J, dh           3  0  0  0   
Hewitt A, 3b          4  1  1  1   Irvine P, ph-dh       1  0  0  0   
Dabbs M, rf           4  2  1  0   Morgan K, 1b          4  0  1  0   
Warren T, dh          5  3  3  4   Rubinstein D, rf      2  0  0  0   
Rodriguez J, c        5  1  3  2   Parry C, c            4  0  0  0   
                                   Payne M, 3b           4  1  1  0   
                                   Rosero C, lf-cf       4  0  2  1   
                                   Pedron F, 2b          3  0  0  0   
                                   Summerlin T, 2b       0  0  0  0   
                     -- -- -- --                        -- -- -- --
                     44 15 19 14                        32  2  7  1   

Williamsport     100 180 005 -- 15
State College    110 000 000 --  2

  Williamsport         IP  H  R ER BB SO
Lebron S (W)          5.2  6  2  2  1  5
Massingham E          1.1  1  0  0  0  2
Long J                1.0  0  0  0  1  2
Grieve S              1.0  0  0  0  1  1

  State College        IP  H  R ER BB SO
Cox T (L)             4.2 10 10  8  1  4
Knotts A              1.1  3  0  0  0  1
Erickson J            1.0  0  0  0  0  1
Baca M                1.0  1  0  0  0  1
Fagan A               1.0  5  5  5  1  0

E -- Cox T, Vasquez A, Rubinstein D, Pedron F
DP -- Williamsport 1, State College 2
LOB -- Williamsport 6, State College 6
2B -- Garcia E, Payne M, Murillo F 2, Warren T, Morgan K
3B -- Warren T
HR -- Castro L
SB -- Vasquez A
CS -- Castro L
SF -- Hewitt A
HBP -- by Cox T (Dabbs M)
PB -- Rodriguez J
T -- 2:42
A -- 5593

It doesn’t yet have the same appeal as the NFL draft, but the MLB is taking steps to make their draft more and more interesting.

The 3 day event starts tonight at 6:00 P.M. EST when the Washington Nationals go on the clock.

The MLB Network will be televising the entire first round, and all rounds will be simulcast live on mlb.com.

The draft could pan out a million different ways, but there are 2 things that you can count on.

1) Washington Nationals select Stephen Strasburg. This pitcher from San Diego State has been the talk of the draft class. He should go #1.

2) Seattle Mariners select Dustin Ackley. This 1B/OF seems like the clear choice at #2.

The Pirates pick 4th. There are lots of possibilities for where the Bucs will go with this pick, including: Tony Sanchez (C – Boston College), Aaron Crow (P – Fort Worth Cats), Alex White (P – North Carolina), and Zach Wheeler (P – East Paulding H.S.).

I’m guessing that the Bucs first round pick will be a pitcher. We’ll find out closer to 6:45 tonight.

The Pirates also get the 49th pick. This is a compensatory first round pick, for unsigned 2008 No. 48 overall pick Tanner Scheppers.

Draft Update

Round 1 – Pick #4 – Jorge (Tony) Sanchez – C – Boston College
Compensatory Round A – Pick #49 – Victor Black – RHP – Dallas Baptist U
Round 2 – Pick #53 – Brooks Pounders – RHP – Temecula Valley H.S.
Round 3 – Pick #84 – Evan Chambers – CF – Hillsborough CC