It is said that it isn't how you start, but how you finish -- but for the State College Spikes, the beginning was as bad as the end.
A five-run second inning by the Auburn Doubledays helped to extend the Spikes' longest losing streak of the season to four games, as Auburn defeated State College 11-2 last night.
After being dominated the last three-and-a-half games by the Doubledays' hitters, State College called on the only available arm it had left -- infielder Willian Sandoval.
The move was needed because the Spikes continued a trend of bullpen collapses that began during their three-game home series against Auburn last weekend. This time, though, the Spikes began the game with their bullpen, and the results were as expected.
Spikes manager Mark DeJohn tapped reliever Lance Marcum for the start because of an injury to starter Eddie Degerman. Marcum was a bullpen stalwart for the early part of the season until recent struggles have brought him down to the level of his fellow bullpen pitchers.
Marcum entered last night's game with a 3.86 ERA, but after a three-inning, six-run performance that number has risen to 5.62.
But it hasn't been just Marcum, every bullpen pitcher outside of Matt Lane has seen their ERA hover around 4.00 for the entire season -- Lane has actually seen his ERA drop six points. This is a disturbing trend, especially in a league where a complete game is almost non-existent.
Even the pitchers brought in to stop the bleeding started by Marcum provided no relief. Ryan Hodinka and Kyle Mura added five runs to the already widening Doubledays' lead and joined Marcum in the over-5.00 ERA club.
Couple that with the fact that the Spikes' offense was once again missing in action, and all the ingredients are in place for a blowout loss. The Spikes are still looking for an identity on offense and have scored only eight runs in the last four games.
Clarity
During the rain delay on Thursday night, DeJohn and general manager Rick Janac were on the field having a heated discussion, but according to the two, they were not arguing; it was just DeJohn being excited about Tupperware and a Superman movie.
They said the decision to call the game was a mutual one between DeJohn, Janac, the Hudson Valley manager and the umpire because of concern for the safety of the players.
