STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — An early day — and some early gifts — failed to change the State College Spikes’ fortunes against the Staten Island Yankees.
The Spikes dropped their first day game of 2011, falling to the Yankees 6-4 on Thursday at Richmond County Bank Ballpark.
Four walks and three wild pitches in 31/ 3 innings by Staten Island starter Bryan Mitchell, who leads the New
York-Penn League with 21 walks, helped the Spikes score four runs.
The Yankees cruised after Mitchell left the game. Relievers Michael Recchia, Fred Lewis, Philip Wetherell and Branden Pinder combined to allow one hit and one walk in 52/ 3 innings.
Trailing 2-0 entering the second, the Spikes (7-20) received their biggest hit as Matt Skirving hit a two-run single, scoring Taylor Lewis and Chris Lashmet, who reached on walks. The Spikes nearly scored a third time during the inning, but Wes Freeman, who also reached on a walk, was tagged out at home after right fielder Benjamin Gamel’s throw home on Walker Gourley’s fly out sailed past catcher Nick McCoy. Mitchell backed up the throw and tossed the ball to McCoy, who stood his ground during a collision with Freeman.
Alex Fuselier walked, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on a throwing error by second baseman Angelo Gumbs in the third. The Spikes added their final run when Freeman singled and scored in the third on a throwing error by McCoy during the fourth.
Zack Dodson, a 2009 fourth-round draft pick making his first rehabilitation start after suffering a hand injury at full-season West Virginia, allowed six hits and four runs in three innings. Dodson allowed a two-run homer to Casey Stevenson in the third. Dodson struck out five before being replaced by Fraylin Campos, who walked two and hit a batter. Vince Payne replaced Campos with one out in the fourth. Payne allowed three hits and a run in 12/ 3 innings. Joan Montero kept Staten Island’s lead at two by
pitching three scoreless innings.
Skirving had two of State College’s four hits. Stevenson went 3-for-4 with four RBIs for the Yankees (21-4).
Notes:The Pirates agreed to terms with third-round draft pick Alex Dickerson, a first baseman from Indiana University. Dickerson hit .367 with nine homers and 49 RBIs this past spring. ...Pitcher Rinku Singh was promoted to West Virginia on Thursday. Singh, the first player from India to play for the Spikes, allowed two earned runs in 81/ 3 innings after a promotion from the rookie Gulf Coast League.
