The friendly confines of Diethrick Park have become anything but friendly for the Jamestown Jammers of the New York-Penn League.
Jamestown lost for the seventh straight time at home on Saturday night and eighth in the last nine outings as State College prevailed, 5-2.
The loss dropped Jamestown to 21-30 for the season and 10-17 at home while the win lifted State College to 28-25 and put the Spikes within 2 games of the front-running Auburn Doubledays.
Article Photos
Tyler Gaffney of the State College Spikes managed to get back to first base under the tag of Jamestown Jammers first baseman Felix Munoz on a pickoff attempt during Saturday night’s New York-Penn League game at Diethrick Park. See additional photos at cu.post-journal.com.
P-J photo by Jim Riggs
Again it was the big inning that did most of the damage to the Jammers. This time it was four-run fifth inning.
Helpi Reyes, a Jamestown starter for most of the season, came in relief of starter Blake Logan in the third and got out of a jam when he retired three straight batters after Jesus Vasquez led off when a triple.
Reyes gave up a leadoff double to Walker Gourley in the fourth and he advanced to third on a infield out. He was later cut down when the ball got away from catcher Sharif Othman who threw to third baseman Matt Juengel for the out.
Things weren't so fortunate for the Jammers when the fifth inning rolled around. Reyes walked Derek Trent and Jimmy Rider and a single by Vasquez loaded the bases. Tyler Gaffney walked to force home the tying run at 1-1 and that was it for Reyes (1-5).
In relief came Ramon Del Orbe, another starter, and Gourley greeted him with an RBI single but Gaffney was out at third on a throw from right fielder Cody Keefer. The next batter, D.J. Crumlich, hit a two-run double and the Spikes held a 4-1 edge.
Jamestown opened the scoring in the third off Luis Heredia (3-1) when Keefer walked with two outs and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Jesus Solorzano brought him in with his ninth double for his 24th RBI of the year.
The Jammers added a tally in the fifth on a 10th double by Kentrell Dewitt, who eventually scored on a double play.
Vasquez continued his fine performance by belting a pitch from Del Orbe over the left field wall for his second home run of the year in the sixth and a 5-2 lead.
Jamestown put up a mild threat in the sixth as Felix Munoz walked and Anthony Gomez singled, but Othman fanned for one of six strikeouts by Clario Perez, who got his first save by working the last four scoreless innings.
The teams play again today at 1 p.m.