STATE COLLEGE - The State College Spikes fell victim to a five-run second inning from the Jamestown Jammers, and despite a brief flurry in response, the Spikes took a 9-2 loss on Wednesday night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.
After a 1 hour, 27 minute rain delay at the beginning of the night, Jamestown (23-30) came out swinging, with two hits and an error allowing Juancito Martinez to bring in the game's first run with a fielder's choice. Michael Main's walk then loaded the bases for Cody Keefer to knock in another run on a fielder's choice.
State College (28-27) starter Jason Creasy (0-4) then hit a batter and allowed a bases-loaded walk to Viosergy Rosa to enlarge the Jammers' lead to 3-0, with Matt Juengel's two-run single one batter later completing the Jamestown scoring burst and chasing Creasy from the mound.
The Spikes would bounce back for a pair of runs in the very next frame, though. Chris Diaz led off with a walk, and after an infield single by Samuel Gonzalez and a bunt single by Jodaneli Carvajal, Tyler Gaffney plated Diaz with an RBI fielder's choice to make it 5-1. Walker Gourley then produced an RBI groundout to get State College within three runs, but that would be the closest they would get during the game.
In the fifth inning, an error combined with a walk and a single led to Martinez's two-run base hit, with a double play allowing another run to score to extend the Jamestown lead to 8-2. Martinez then put the capper on a four-RBI night with a sacrifice fly to right in the seventh for the last Jammers run.
D.J. Crumlich went 2-for-4 with a double for the Spikes.
Creasy yielded five runs, but only one earned run, over his one and two-thirds innings on the hill. The right-hander gave up four hits and three walks while striking out one.
Jamestown reliever James Wright (2-4) picked up the win with three scoreless innings of work. Wright allowed one walk and struck out four batters in the process. Starter Drew Steckenrider went four innings and struck out eight Spikes while giving up two runs on three hits and two walks. Jammers pitchers combined to produce 14 strikeouts during the game.
Martinez, who was the MiLB.com Top Star Award winner as Most Valuable Player of the New York-Penn League All-Star Game one night prior, went 2-for-4 and scored a run in addition to his four runs batted in. Yeison Hernandez went 4-for-5 with a pair of runs scored for Jamestown as well.
Thursday, the Spikes and Jammers complete their two-game series at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park with a 7:05 p.m. matchup. State College will have left-hander Joely Rodriguez (2-1) on the mound, while Jamestown goes with right-hander Blake Logan (1-0).
