Spikes’ offensive punch continues against Batavia

Adams leads Muckdogs with two hits, two RBIs

BATAVIA, N.Y. — Not even another productive game from a former Centre County standout could slow the State College Spikes.

Adams

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The Spikes belted 12 hits and received a strong start from Ricardo Paulino to rout Batavia 9-2 Saturday at Dwyer Stadium. The victory followed Friday’s 8-0 home victory against Brooklyn.

The Spikes (31-30) defeated Batavia despite striking out a season-high 16 times.

Paulino made it easy to forget about the whiffs by allowing one hit in six scoreless innings. Philipsburg-Osceola graduate Matt Adams’ leadoff single to right field in the second was Batavia’s lone hit off Paulino.

Adams, who joined the Muckdogs earlier this month after beginning his professional career at rookie Johnson City, went 2 for 4 in his first game against the Spikes. Adams also hit a two-run double off Brandon Holden in the seventh, raising his New York-Penn League batting average to .348 with 14 RBIs through 16 games. Adams, the St. Louis Cardinals’ 23-round draft pick, hit .372 with six homers and 25 RBIs in 31 games at Johnson City to earn his promotion.

Evan Chambers provided the Spikes with a spark in his first professional appearance as a leadoff hitter. Chambers went 3 for 3 with two walks and scored twice. Chambers walked and scored to begin a four-run third inning. Chambers also walked and scored in the fourth. Chambers, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ third-round pick, is now hitting .233 with a .380 on-base percentage.

Justin Byler, Aaron Baker and Pat Irvine added two hits each and combined to drive in five runs. Byler hit two doubles, including a two-run shot to center field off Batavia starter Joe Kelly.

Kelly, a third-round draft pick from Cal-Riverside, allowed four hits and five runs and was replaced by Andres Rosales after Byler’s double. The Spikes touched Rosales for three hits and three runs in 12/ 3 innings.

State College’s offense cooled once Batavia manager Mark DeJohn inserted Deryk Hooker into the game. Hooker allowed one run and struck out six in 31/ 3 innings.

Chambers was the only Spike who didn’t strikeout. David Rubinstein, Andy Vasquez and Edward Garcia struck out three times each while Byler and Craig Parry fanned twice.

Batavia scored both of its runs off Holden in the seventh. Ted Fallon and Marc Baca ended the game by pitching scoreless innings. The Spikes held Batavia to six hits.

The Spikes and Muck-dogs (31-30) resume their series at 5:05 p.m. Both teams trail Staten Island by 31/ 2 games in the wildcard.