Spikes Slam 'Cats 13-0
STATE COLLEGE, PA—Calvin Anderson’s grand slam capped off a State College offensive explosion as the Spikes crushed the Tri-City ValleyCats, 13-0.
Anderson’s one-out round-tripper over the left field wall brought home the final runs of the game in the fifth inning. It was the second grand slam in team history, following Miles Durham’s grand slam over the center field wall against Batavia on July 1st, 2007.
State College (7-20) scored four runs in the second, three in the fourth, and six in the fifth inning. The final total of 13 runs was the most by the Spikes at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, bettering the previous record of 12, set against Lowell in 2007 and tied July 4th of this year against Vermont.
Cole White collected three hits to extend his hit streak to 12 games, third longest in the New York-Penn League. White also scored three runs and drove in two.
Anderson scored a run in addition to the four RBI he collected with the grand slam. Jeremy Farrell went 2-for-4 with three RBI. Butch Biela went 2-for-4 and knocked in two runs. Seven of the nine Spikes starters in the batting order picked up at least one hit.
Tri-City (10-18) used five pitchers in the game. Starter Antonio Noguera (1-4) allowed seven runs, but only one earned, in four innings and was hung with the loss. Noguera was relieved by Eduin Ciriaco, who allowed six earned runs in one-third of an inning. Ciriaco was ejected by home plate umpire Tyler Wilson after hitting Biela on the shoulder with the pitch after Anderson’s grand slam.
Rudy Owens (1-3) made his longest start of the year for State College, pitching five innings of scoreless three-hit ball for the win. Kyle McPherson and Owen Brolsma finished the game to preserve the Spikes’ second shutout win in five days. Four Spikes, including McPherson and Brolsma, combined for a 1-0 shutout of Brooklyn on Saturday.
Thursday night, the Spikes and ValleyCats meet in the second game of a three-game series. The 7:05 game will feature right-hander Wilson Ortiz (0-1) going for State College against lefty Jarred Holloway (0-2) for Tri-City.