The starter for the Spikes tonight will be Emilis Guerrero taking the hill for his second outing for the Spikes.

The starting line-up is:

1. Ciro Rosero LF
2. Jordy Mercer  SS
3. Matt Hague 1B
4. Calvin Anderson DH
5. Butch Biela RF
6. Quincy Latimore CF
7. Chase D’arnoud 3B
8. Josue Peley C
9. Chad Rice 2B

Top of the 1st:
Spikes go down in order.
Score 0-0

Bottom of the 1st:
Guerrero retires the side with two Ks.
Score 0-0

Top of the 2nd:
Another 1, 2, 3 inning
Score 0-0

Bottom of the 2nd:
Chase D’arnoud’s little brother Travis gets the first hit of the game for Williamsport with one out in the second. Guerrero retires the next batter but gives up a two out single.  Former Spike Scott Thomas grounds out with runners on 1st and 2nd to end the inning.
Score 0-0

Top of the 3rd:
Batting ninth, Chad Rice gets the first Spikes hit of the game but is thrown out at second on a steal attempt.
Score 0-0

Bottom of the 3rd:
Guerrero settles down and has another 1, 2, 3 inning.
Score 0-0

Top of the 4th:
Pitcher’s duel in process as the Spikes go down in order again.
Score 0-0

Bottom of the 4th:
Rain delay – game restarted at 8:30 after a 40 minute delay. Guerrero remains in the game. Travis D’arnoud gets his second hit of the game with two out but Guerrero gets the third batter. Travis and Chase’s father is in attendance at the game so he must be enjoying the two hits by Travis.
Score 0-0

Top of the 5th:
Anderson homers but the next three Spikes go down.
Spikes lead 1-0

Bottom of the 5th:
Former Spike Scott Thomas gets a one out double and comes around to score on a two out single. Guerrero gets out of the inning with further damage.
Score tied 1-1

Top of the 6th
Rice walks. Rosero gets on when the pitcher bobbles a ball dribbled back to him. One out – runners on 1st and 2nd when Mercer walks to load the bases – and we then go into a second rain delay.
After the second 40 minute rain delay of the night, Matt Hague hits a three run bases clearing double. Hague then scores on a double by Calvin Anderson. Anderson is thrown out at third on a fielder’s choice that puts Biela on first who promptly gets picked off for the third out.
Score Spikes 5-1

Bottom of the 6th
Penn State grad Gary Amato relieves Guerrero and promptly gives up back to back singles. Amato strikes out d’Arnoud, but hits a batter to load the bases. A sacrifice fly scores a run then Amato strikes out Scott Thomas to end the threat.
Score Spikes 5-2

Top of the 7th
Peley hits a two out double but is stranded when d’Arnoud strikes out.
Score Spikes 5-2

Bottom of the 7th
Amato returns for his second inning. Gary retires the first two but walks the next two. Amato gets the batter to pop the ball up but d’Arnoud stumbles over the mound and the ball drops for a hit allowing a run to score. Amato then records a strikeout to end the inning.
Score Spikes 5-3

Top of the 8th
Hague gets a two out double which brings Calvin Anderson to the plate. Calvin is already 2-3 with a HR and a double but he grounds out so the Cutters escape the inning.
Score Spikes 5-3

Bottom of the 8th
Owen Brolsma comes on to relieve Amato avoiding the mistake the Spikes made the other night when they left Amato in for a third inning. He gives up a one out single, runner advances on a ground out, then is balked to third. Fortunately, Brolsma strikes out the batter to get out of the inning
Score Spikes 5-3

Top of the 9th
d’Arnoud gets a two out double but is stranded at second.
Score Spikes 5-3

Bottom of the 9th
Brolsma returns for his second inning. He walks one but gets the save.
Final Score Spikes 5-3

UncleLar Take:

I thought this was just the game that the Spikes needed. They got solid pitching and very timely hitting particularly from Calvin Anderson who is starting to look like he may not be around here long. Given the bad start the Spikes have had, the last thing that they needed was to come out flat against their “arch rival” Crosscutters. With a win tomorrow, they might be able to right the floundering ship.

This game was scheduled for a 10:45 start but will be delayed.

It rained heavily overnight and, as of 10:30 this morning, the tarp is still on the field and the Spikes are still at their hotel, so the game isn’t about to start anytime soon.

The rain has subsided over the last 15 minutes and a decision needs to be made regarding the game. Obviously because of the early scheduled start they have plenty of time to wait out the weather. Jamestown would actually prefer to reschedule the game as part of a doubleheader later in the season. However, they have a major educational promotion going on today with lots of school kids in attendance. Because of the promotion, they have to get permission from the league to cancel the game and that decision has not yet been made.

I’ll be back when I know more.

We are in a rain delay with the start of the game estimated to be 7:30. Here’s the Spikes lineup

• David Rubinstein CF
• Butch Biela RF
• Matthew Hague 3B
• Calvin Anderson 1B
• Quincy Latimore LF
• Jeremy Farrell DH
• Josue Peley C
• Silvio Pena SS
• Chad Rice 2B

Emilis Guerrero will be on the mound. The Spikes are the fourth team that Guerrero has pitched for in the last two year. Last season he pitched for Lynchburg, Hickory, and Altoona. Starting the season off in State College can’t be a good sign for his career. He’ll need to pitch well quickly.

Top of the First
Down 1,2,3
Score 0-0
Bottom of First
Guerrero retires Jammers in order with two K’s.
Score 0-0
Top of Second
Anderson singles but is stranded at the next three Spikes go down in order
Score 0-0
Bottom of Second
Ernie Banks (great name) with a lead-off double comes around and scores on a later hit. Jammers strand two.
Score Jammers 1-0
Top of Third
Rice doubles but is stranded
Score Jammers 1-0
Bottom of Third
Guerrero retires Jammers in order
Score Jammers 1-0
Top of Fourth
Hague singles, Calvin Anderson crushes homer to give Spikes 2-1 lead. Latimore singles, later scores on a double play ball.
Score Spikes 3-1
Bottom of Fourth
Guerrero give up a bunt single but gets out of the inning without further damage
Score Spikes 3-1
Top of Fifth
Rubinstein singles but is later doubled off first on a liner.
Score Spikes 3-1
Bottom of Fifth
Yoffri Martinez replaces Guerrero and retires the side 1,2,3.
Top of Sixth
Anderson strikes out after getting two hits in first two at bats. Side is retired 1,2,3.
Score Spikes 3-1
Bottom of Sixth
Martinez gives up a no out single but gets out of the inning unscathed.
Score Spikes 3-1
Top of Seventh
Pena singles, advances on a bunt, but is stranded there.
Score Spikes 3-1
Bottom of Seventh
Allen Ponder replaces Martinez. Gives up a one out single who comes around to score on a bunt when Hague commits a throwing error. An infield single along with a walk sandwiched around a strikeout loads up the bases and then Ponder gives up a grand slam to Ben Lassiter. Gary Amato replaces Ponder. Amato walks the first batter but retires the second to get out of the inning
Score Jammers 6-3
Top of Eighth
With two out Anderson gets his third hit, Latimore his second, and Matt Carver, who had replaced Farrell when he was hit by a pitch earlier, drives in Anderson with a single, then Peley singles to drive in Latimore. Pena hits a grounder that is booted by Jamestown to allow the tying run to score. Rice strikes out to end the inning but the two out lightning has tied the game.
Score Tied 6-6
Bottom of Eighth
Amato puts the Jammers down in order.
Score Tied 6-6
Top of Ninth
Matt Hague gets on on a bobbled ball to short with two out which brings Calvin Anderson, who is 3-4, to the plate. Pinch runner Matt Payne steals second but Anderson strikes out to end the inning
Score Tied 6-6
Bottom of Ninth
Amato stays in for his third inning of work and gives up a no-out single. Amato avoids the sacrifice and strikes out the batter. Amato strikes out the second batter on a hit and run but on the steal Peley throws the ball into centerfield allowing the runner to advance to third. Amato then gives up a single to Ernie Banks to lose the game. They probably left Amato in too long.

Final Score: Jammers 7-6

UncleLar Take:

Other than Ponder, the rest of the pitching staff looked solid. They also got eleven hits so the hitting looked strong too. Calvin Anderson had a performance to match his physical stature – he just looks like a ball player.

Game time is 10:45 tomorrow morning. If I remember, I’ll blog tomorrow’s game too.