Spikes Swept By Scrappers
By: K.C. Kantz
Updated: July 1, 2012
NILES, OH - Jake Burnette rebounded from allowing a first-inning home run to pitch a career-long five innings on the mound for the State College Spikes, but the Spikes' offense was stifled in a 3-1 defeat at the hands of the Mahoning Valley Scrappers on Saturday night at Eastwood Field.
Burnette (0-2) yielded a two-run shot to right field by Mahoning Valley (6-7) catcher Charlie Valerio in the opening frame, but bounced back to hold the Scrappers off of the scoreboard for the remainder of his mound tenure. The right-hander, who was the Pirates' seventh-round draft choice in 2011, yielded a total of five hits in taking the loss but struck out three batters and did not walk any.
State College (7-6) responded to Valerio's homer with its lone run in the second inning. Jacob Stallings led off with a walk. After Walker Gourley singled him to third, a Valerio passed ball then allowed Stallings to score and cut the Spikes' deficit to 2-1.
However, the Spikes could not produce any more runs in the game, and were held without a baserunner after the sixth inning. Mahoning Valley added an insurance run on an RBI single by Jairo Kelly in the seventh inning to produce the final result.
Jodaneli Carvajal stole his third base of the year for State College, bringing the Spikes' steals total on the year to 20, which leads the New York-Penn League.
The Spikes also struck out nine batters as a staff on Saturday, with relievers Pat Ludwig, Logan Pevny and Emmanuel De Leon each whiffing two Scrappers in a single inning of work.
Mahoning Valley starter Luis DeJesus (1-0) earned the win after yielding just one unearned run on four hits and a walk over six innings. DeJesus also struck out three and reduced his season ERA to 0.53, ranking among the NYPL leaders in that category. Jack Wagoner retired all six batters he faced in two innings following DeJesus, three via strikeout. Enosil Tejeda (2) pitched a shutout ninth inning with one strikeout for the save.
The Scrappers completed a sweep of the three-game series against the Spikes, returning the favor after State College swept them in three games at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park last weekend.
--Spikes Media Relations--
