WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — Southpaw Daniel Castano delivered six-plus quality innings on the mound, and Edwin Figuera knocked in a pair of runs with three hits to guide the State College Spikes to a 5-1 win on Tuesday night at BB&T Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field.
(Photo of Daniel Castano. Photo courtesy of State College Spikes)
The win enabled the Spikes (1-1) to spoil the grand reopening of Williamsport’s (1-1) newly refurbished ballpark and notch their first win of the 2017 season.
Castano (1-0) yielded just one run on eight hits before leaving the mound in the seventh, with two subsequent runs charged to him after his exit. The left-hander struck out six batters and yielded just one walk in the victory.
Figuera started the State College scoring with a second-inning single and then produced doubles in each of his next two at-bats. The latter two-bagger in the sixth inning also brought in a run to bolster the Spikes’ lead to 4-1. Figuera would then score himself on a wild pitch to put the advantage at 5-1.
Mick Fennell and Caleb Lopes also brought in runs for the Spikes in the fourth inning, Fennell with a groundout and Lopes on a sacrifice fly.
Williamsport slugger Cole Stobbe continued his hot start with a solo homer, his second of the year, that tied the game in the second inning.
The Crosscutters edged into the Spikes’ lead in the seventh when Raul Rivas plated two runs with a bases-loaded double. However, State College reliever Colton Thomson bore down to finish the inning without yielding any more damage.
Robbie Gordon (1) then closed out the game for State College with a six-out save. Gordon gave up only one hit batsman and struck out two batters.
Catcher Josh Lopez also delivered a multi-hit game for the Spikes
Crosscutters starter Gustavo Armas (0-1) took the loss after giving up three runs on six hits, a walk and two hit batsmen. Armas recorded two strikeouts in the effort.
The Spikes now return home to Medlar Field at Lubrano Park to start a three-game series with the Batavia Muckdogs (Miami Marlins) on Wednesday. The 7:05 p.m. matchup will feature right-hander Jonathon Mulford for State College in his first start of the New York-Penn League season. Batavia will respond with right-hander Sam Perez, a 2016 fifth-round draft choice out of Missouri State, on the mound.
Get into the park with half-price Outfield Bleachers, then enjoy half-price craft beers from 6-8 p.m., as well as half-price medium sodas all game long, on Half-Craft Wednesday presented by 93.7 THE BUS. It’s also a State College Borough Water Authority Water Conservation Awareness Night and the first Winner Wednesday of the year, presented by the PA Lottery.
Thursday, bring your favorite pup to the ballpark for four-legged fun during the first Bark in the Park of the year, presented by Metzger Animal Hospital and NEWSRADIO 1390 WRSC. First pitch is 7:05 p.m. and fans can bring their dogs for plenty of canine-centric fun, with special tributes to our furry friends. Plus, 12-oz. domestic draft beers are just $1 apiece from 6-8 p.m. on the first $1 Beer Thursday of the year, presented by BIG Froggy 101.
The series finishes off with Friday’s Championship Celebration Night, presented by First National Bank. Fans can join the Spikes in paying homage to the 2016 NYPL championship team with a special trophy presentation before the 7:05 p.m. game and the first 500 fans will share in the championship spoils with their very own NYPL Championship Replica Ring. After the game, the skies will light up with FIREWORKS presented by Fullington Bus Company on Clearfield County Night.
