State College Spikes fall to Brooklyn Cyclones in final inning

The State College Spikes were just one out away from forcing extra innings Sunday, but the Brooklyn Cyclones’ walk-off double put an end to that idea.

Brooklyn’s Jose Miguel Medina proved to be the Cyclones’ hero when he smacked the game-winning RBI to eke out a 2-1 win at MCU Park.

With two outs and no men on in the final inning, the Cyclones’ Matt Winaker singled on a line drive to right field. Reed Gamache then walked on four straight balls — as State College’s manager visited the mound to calm his reliever.

The trip didn’t work.

Miguel Medina then stepped up to the plate and hit the first pitch that came his way, knocking a line drive to left field to end the game.

With the win, Brooklyn improves to 7-19 while State College falls to 15-11.

Player of the game

Brooklyn outfielder Jose Miguel Medina: He boasted the game-winning hit, so this is a pretty easy pick. Still, Miguel Medina’s performance went beyond that single at-bat. He finished with a game-high three hits Sunday — equaling the entire batting production of the Spikes — and reached base four times, thanks to a walk. Brooklyn wouldn’t have won without him.

Pitcher’s duel

Starters: State College starting pitcher Paul Balestrieri and Brooklyn starter Gunnar Kines both turned in solid performances Sunday. Each threw for six innings, with both allowing just two walks to three strikeouts. Kines was much harder to hit, though — he allowed just one hit and surrendered no runs. Balestrieri scattered six hits and gave up one run.

Up next

State College at Williamsport, 7:05 p.m. Monday: State College’s Sam Tewes (2-2, 4.30 ERA) will start his sixth game of the season Monday, while Williamsport’s Julian Garcia (2-1, 1.29 ERA) will be making his fifth start. Garcia has struck out 30 batters in 21 innings, compared to Tewes’ 20 strikeouts in 29  1/3 innings. Monday’s game will be critical, as both teams are neck-and-neck in the Pinckney Division.

This story was originally published July 16, 2017 at 7:47 PM with the headline "State College Spikes fall to Brooklyn Cyclones in final inning."