LOWELL, Mass. – Jose Martinez became the first State College Spikes player in franchise history to record consecutive four-hit games, but a big third inning helped the Lowell Spinners on their way to a 9-2 win over the Spikes on Monday night at Edward A. LeLacheur Park.
Martinez, who went 4-for-4 with two walks on Sunday, followed by producing singles in each of his first four at-bats on Monday. Despite lining into a double play to end the game in his last at-bat, the Machiques de Perija, Venezuela native has still increased his average from .221 to .284 with the onslaught.
State College (20-11) got on the board first when leadoff man Tommy Edman drove the second pitch of the game to right field off Daniel Gonzalez (4-1) for his second home run of the season. However, Lowell (18-13) roared back when Chris Madera hit a grand slam to left-center field off Spikes starter Bryan Dobzanski (2-3) to start a six-run third inning for the Spinners.
After Carlos Tovar’s single and Yoan Aybar’s groundout finished off Lowell’s surge in the third, Tyler Hill produced a two-run single in the fourth to increase the lead to 8-1.
The Spikes bounced back in the sixth when Ryan McCarvel drove in a run with a sacrifice fly. However, the Spikes left a pair of runners on in both the sixth and seventh, and Jerry Downs put the game out of reach by producing a sacrifice fly in the seventh for the Spinners.
Edman went 3-for-5 with his homer for the Spikes, while Anthony Ray produced two hits, including a double.
Dobzanski took the loss after allowing a total of eight runs, six of them earned, on nine hits and a walk over 3 1/3 innings in his shortest outing of the year. The grand slam off the right-hander was the first home run he had allowed this season.
Gonzalez earned the win for Lowell with six innings of two-run ball, yielding seven hits and a walk while striking out five batters.
The Spikes now look to get back on track in the rubber match of their three-game series with the Spinners on Tuesday. Game time at LeLacheur Park is set for 7:05 p.m. State College will send left-hander Dewin Perez (2-1) to the hill to take on Lowell left-hander Brian Johnson (0-0), who is making his second start on a Major League rehab assignment from the Boston Red Sox.
After the set in Lowell, the Spikes return home on Thursday to start a three-game series against the Auburn Doubledays (Washington Nationals) with a 7:05 p.m. matchup on $1 Beer Thursday, presented by BIG Froggy 101. The homestand is also highlighted by Coaches vs. Cancer of Penn State Night presented by HRI, Inc. on Friday with a Road to the Show Poster Giveaway for the first 1,000 fans and a Game-Used Hat Auction to benefit Coaches vs. Cancer of Penn State.
Saturday, the first 1,000 fans will receive a Spikes Mini-Football Giveaway presented by Penn State Health during the 1986 National Championship 30th Anniversary Celebration, with a pre-game action sports demonstration and post-game FIREWORKS on TEAM REAM Day.
Tickets to all three games, as well as every game on the Spikes’ 2016 home schedule, are currently on sale through the Spikes Box Office by calling (814) 272-1711 or by visiting in person. Fans can also buy and print single-game tickets by visiting StateCollegeSpikes.com.
Catch all of the action on Tuesday via the Spikes Radio Network, presented by Penn State Health, at 6:50 p.m. with Spikes Live, presented by Mount Nittany Health, on the air from LeLacheur Park. The Spikes’ radio broadcast can also be heard worldwide through the “Listen Live” link on StateCollegeSpikes.com, provided by the club’s flagship radio home, Newsradio 1390 WRSC, as well as the TuneIn Radio app.
Copyright © 2024 EYT Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Any copying, redistribution or retransmission of the contents of this service without the express written consent of EYT Media Group, Inc. is expressly prohibited.
