Spikes get revenge in nightcap

Guy Cipriano

UNIVERSITY PARK — Examining the workload of Oneonta starters represents the best way to describe Thursday’s two-game conundrum.

CDT/Christopher Weddle

State College's Nathan Baker pitches against Oneonta at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park on Thursday, August 13, 2009. CDT/Christopher Weddle

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In the opener, Luis Sanz pitched the first complete game in Medlar Field at Lubrano Park’s professional history.

In the nightcap, Cory Hamilton recorded just one out, the shortest start in the ballpark’s four years.

So, yes, the State College Spikes’ night went from brutal to beautiful in a hurry.

The Spikes recovered from a 10-1 loss with a 10-2 victory to split two seven-inning games before a crowd of 5,504, which included a franchise walkup record of 1,357 fans.

Only 30 minutes separate New York-Penn League doubleheader games.

It might have been the most therapeutic half-hour of the Spikes’ season. The Spikes executed tasks they failed to accomplish during first game — locate fastballs, consistently put runners on base and make solid contact — repeatedly once the sky darkened.

“We put that first one in the books,” right fielder David Rubinstein said. “They won. So what? We still had another game to play and we came out with that attitude.”

After starter Jason Erickson struck out two Tigers during the top of the first, the Spikes (28-26) belted five hits and took advantage of a costly error by right fielder Alexis Espinoza to score six times in the bottom of the inning. Manager Gary Robinson said Erickson’s fast start changed momentum. Erickson said he simply tried to give the offense a chance.

“I just wanted to go out there and make it a quick inning so our hitters could get into a rhythm,” said Erickson, who allowed one run and four this in four innings. “That’s what I did. They came out in a big way and that made it easy for me the rest of the way.”

Ten Spikes batted in the first — Brock Holt hit twice after beginning the inning with a single to left field — but Hamilton only faced eight as Oneonta manager Howard Bushong inserted Kevan Hess after Craig Parry’s single. Hamilton, who entered Thursday with a 2.10 ERA in 341⁄3 innings, and Ness combined to throw 45 pitches in the first.

A gaffe by Espinoza extended the inning. Rubinstein lofted a ball to right with one out and Evan Chambers standing on third. Espinoza approached the ball, hoping to make a strong throw home. Instead, his attempt at a one-handed catch failed, the ball dropped and Chambers easily scored.

Hamilton never recovered from the error. His night ended with Pat Irvine and Parry belting RBI singles.

Hamilton allowed six runs, but only three were earned.

The Spikes were never content with the six-run lead. Irvine, who reached base safely in his first five plate appearances Thursday, hit a two-run single with two outs in the second.

Even poor at-bats led to runs. Parry missed a breaking ball in fourth, but Nathan Newman’s pitch trickled away from catcher Eric Roof, allowing Parry to take first on the strikeout. Parry then scored on Andy Vasquez’s triple to left field.

Oneonta’s struggles continued in the sixth as Newman and Michael Torrealba combined to walk four straight with two outs. Torrealba’s walk to Irvine, who held his swing on an inside fastball, allowed Aaron Baker to score.

As glamorous as it all appeared, the Spikes started the night on the wrong side of a similar game.

Starter Nelson Pereira walked four in three innings, a stretch where Oneonta (28-23) scored three runs despite recording two hits. Brandon Holden allowed four hits, including a solo homer to Matt Mansilla, and three runs in the fourth. Oneonta then scored three runs in two innings off Nathan Baker before Wade Gaynor smacked an Owen Brolsma fastball into the left-field picnic deck during the seventh.

The Tigers recorded 11 hits and walked six times during the game. They also received a strong start from Sanz, who allowed seven hits and walked two in seven innings. The Spikes scored their only run on Rubinstein’s solo homer to right-center during the second.

“We just didn’t pitch very well in the first game,” Robinson said. “It wasn’t stuff. It was location, deep counts and we gave them opportunities to take too many aggressive swings.”

Despite the lopsided score, the Spikes retreated to a calm clubhouse, where they consumed a quick meal. No anger was expressed between games.

“Nothing was really said,” said Irvine, who went 4 for 5 during the doubleheader and drove in four in the second game. “We were pretty confident we could come back.”

The schedule provided the players and coaches ample time to reflect on the 14 innings. The team embarked on the 499-mile bus ride to Vermont an hour after the second game.

The Spikes, who trail Staten Island by 31⁄2 games in the race for the NY-PL’s lone wildcard spot, begin a three-game series against the Lake Monsters at 7 p.m. tonight. A long haul after another loss would have been difficult for many players to handle.

“It would have felt like a 20-hour bus ride,” Rubinstein said. “Hopefully this will make it feel a little shorter.”

Guy Cipriano can be reached at 231-4643.