STATEN ISLAND, NY – The State College Spikes produced a four-run fourth inning, and clutch pitching made the lead hold up as the Spikes defeated the Staten Island Yankees, 4-3, on Sunday afternoon at Richmond County Bank Ballpark to run their winning streak to three games.
The Spikes (4-5) were stifled early as Staten Island (5-5) starter Yoel Espinal (1-1) retired the first nine batters he faced. However, State College broke through against Espinal in the fourth. Thomas Spitz led off with a walk and stole second base before Leobaldo Pina was hit by a pitch. Spitz then moved to third on a walk to Casey Grayson. Ronnierd Garcia then singled in a run, and Pina scored on the throw to make it 2-0, Spikes.
Jesse Jenner then singled in another run, and Craig Aikin finished off the frame with a bases-loaded walk.
Juan Perez (2-0) delivered a strong outing on the mound, allowing just one run on three hits and four walks while striking out two in the win. Drew Bridges produced the only run against Perez with a solo home run to right field in the fourth.
The Yankees made the seventh inning hairy for the Spikes by drawing four walks and a hit to close to within a run. However, Pedro Echemendia (1) came into a bases-loaded, one-out situation and force a popout and a flyout to end the threat.
In the ninth, Echemendia came to the rescue again after an error put the tying run on base to open the inning. The Cuban right-hander forced a groundout, and after an intentional walk put runners on first and third, Echemendia recorded a strikeout. Ronnierd Garcia then provided help for the last out, barehanding a slow roller and beating Jake Hernandez by a step with a laser to Grayson stretching at first.
Echemendia struck out three batters total over 2 2/3 scoreless innings for the save.
Garcia was also the only Spike with multiple hits, and Mike Pritchard contributed a double for State College.
Espinal took the loss for the Yankees after yielding four runs over 3 2/3 innings on two hits, three walks and a hit batsman. The right-hander struck out four in the effort.
Bridges’s home run in the fourth snapped the Spikes’ shutout streak at 24 innings, four shy of the franchsie record.
Monday, the Spikes continue their three-game series against the Yankees with a 7:00 p.m. matchup at Richmond County Bank Ballpark. State College will send right-hander Landon Beck (0-0) to the mound to face Staten Island right-hander Domingo Acevedo (0-0).
(VIA SPIKES MEDIA RELATIONS)
