Spikes Take Down Scrappers

Chris Rossetti

Chris Rossetti

Published July 24, 2017 4:17 am
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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The State College Spikes raced out of the gate with nine hits over the first three innings, and Paul Balestrieri’s mound effort in his first pro win helped the Spikes coast to a 5-1 victory over the Mahoning Valley Scrappers on Sunday night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.

(Photo: Evan Mendoza. Photo courtesy of State College Spikes)

The Spikes (18-14) opened up with a three-run first keyed by Evan Mendoza’s two-run triple, then got a sacrifice fly from Zach Kirtley in the second and an RBI single from Dennis Ortega in the third.

Balestrieri (1-0) then made the lead stand up as he allowed one unearned run on seven hits and two walks over 5 1/3 innings. The Cornell product struck out five and delivered 86 pitches, 54 for strikes.

Levi MaVorhis (1) then finished the game with 3 1/3 scoreless innings for the automatic save. MaVorhis yielded one hit and struck out three.

Mendoza and Ortega each compiled multi-hit games for the Spikes.

Mahoning Valley (20-13) came into the game in first place in the New York-Penn League Pinckney Divison, but scored only on Clark Scolamiero’s single in the second.

The Scrappers went without a hit from the fifth through eighth innings, while the Spikes did not produce a hit from the fourth through eighth frames.

Grant Hockin (2-3) started for the Scrappers and took the loss after giving up five runs, four of them earned, on nine hits and a walk. Hockin also recorded a strikeout.

Monday, the Spikes and Scrappers play the middle game of their three-game set at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. The 7:05 p.m. matchup will feature left-hander Daniel Castano (6-0) on the mound for State College. Castano leads the NYPL in wins, strikeouts, and innings pitched.

Mahoning Valley will go with right-hander James Karinchak (0-2), the Cleveland Indians’ 2017 ninth-round draft choice out of Bryant.

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