McCarvel, Bautista homer in Spikes’ win over Aberdeen

The champions of the New York-Penn League’s Pinckney Division want more.

There are still major milestones to hit.

Ryan McCarvel and Ricardo Bautista cracked home runs in the State College Spikes’ 5-2 win over the Aberdeen IronBirds on Monday night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.

The Spikes (46-23) won their third straight and moved to within two wins of the franchise record for victories in the regular season with seven games left.

“I’m challenging them to break the record,” manager Johnny Rodriguez said. “I’m putting it on the board (Tuesday). … We have an opportunity to have a special season.”

State College also moved back into the lead for the league’s best record, a game ahead of Hudson Valley, which lost to Lowell 9-2 on Monday to end a 12-game win streak.

McCarvel was 2 for 2, reaching base in all four plate appearances, and Jeremy Martinez tripled.

Steven Farinaro pitched another effective outing to earn his ninth win of the season, setting the franchise record.

After clinching the division title Saturday, many of the regular starters got Sunday off, then it was back to work. Chasing the team win record set in 2013 and 2014, possibly getting to 50 wins and earning the top seed for the playoffs are all priorities now.

“Those types of things are really cool to be a part of and to accomplish,” Farinaro said. “But I’m a huge (Golden State) Warriors fan. Watching the Warriors win a ton of games was fun … but if you don’t win a championship at the end.”

Rodriguez is already in playoff mode, and is focusing on in-game situations that will be important in the postseason, like pickoff moves and pitch-outs. Rodriguez also plans to start setting up his postseason pitching rotation after consulting with the parent St. Louis Cardinals, and starting pitchers could go longer into games but have a very short leash if there is trouble.

“I’m going to run the game like a playoff game,” Rodriguez said, adding he will continue to work in rest days for key starting position players.

The Spikes also are fighting the instinct to relax with the division clinched.

“It’s always in the back of your mind, ‘Hey, if we lose these games we’re still going to be in the playoffs,’” Farinaro said. “I feel like, one of the reasons we’re winning a lot as a team, whether we’re up by six runs or down by six runs, we’ve always got the pedal to the floor. We’re not going to let up now.”

On the field

Aberdeen (27-41), which has lost seven straight, struck for a run in the second on Chris Clare’s RBI single.

Then it was time for the State College homers.

McCarvel ripped the first one, a two-run shot in the fourth, under the scoreboard in left-center, his team-leading ninth homer of the year.

Bautista delivered his over the 375-foot sign in right-center, his second homer of the season, for a three-run blast in the sixth.

The IronBirds’ second run came home on a Cole Billingsley RBI double, but left fielder Mick Fennell and shortstop Tommy Edman combined to gun down Collin Woody at the plate to end the inning. Woody was trying to score from first.

“Tremendous play on the relay,” Rodriguez said. “We don’t make that, it’s only a two-run lead.”

Billingsley finished 3 for 4.

On the mound

Spikes: Farinaro (9-1) was impressive on the mound, even if his personal scoreless streak ended at 14 innings. He gave up five hits and one run with no walks over six innings, striking out five.

“I felt like my curve ball was pretty sharp,” Farinaro said. “Got ahead with the fastball a little bit (more) today than my last game.”

Relievers Connor Jones and Eric Carter took care of the final three innings.

IronBirds: Travis Seabrooke (1-7) gave up eight hits and five runs with two walks and no strikeouts over five-plus innings. He was chased after Bautista’s homer.

On deck

Spikes: The teams continue the three-game series at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday. Left-handed pitcher Dewin Perez (3-4, 4.53 ERA) will make the start.

IronBirds: Righty Cody Sedlock (0-1, 3.38) will be on the mound for Aberdeen.

This story was originally published August 29, 2016 at 9:55 PM with the headline "McCarvel, Bautista homer in Spikes’ win over Aberdeen."