With a runner on first base, Justin Byler didn't waste any time expanding the Spikes 2-0 lead. When pitcher Skyler Crawford threw the first pitch to Byler, the pitcher immediately hung his head as the ball hugged the left field foul pole and left the park.
Byler's home run was the team's second in as many innings and helped lead the Spikes (23-22) to an 11-2 victory over the visiting Jamestown Jammers (16-29).
"It was a lift for us absolutely," manager Gary Robinson said of the home run. "He was very aggressive and I think that sets the tone for the rest of the ballclub. It was a big home run."
Just a game after the Spikes were held scoreless by the Jammers, the offense was able to get the job done by using the long ball and by manufacturing runs. After the Spikes jumped out to a 4-0 lead after the second inning, they took advantage of four walks in the bottom of the sixth inning.
After Crawford (1-1) left the game for the Jammers with one out in the sixth inning, the Spikes extended their lead. With the bases loaded, right fielder David Rubinstein hit a single to shallow center field that went past the outstretched body of Erik Kanaby.
Kanaby laid out for the ball only to watch as it bounced over his head and rolled into deep center field. With the Jammers outfielders scurrying to the ball, the Spikes managed to clear the bases and Rubinstein ended up on second base. The six runs during the inning came on just three hits.
"It's huge," Byler said of the offensive performance. "It was the same plan as last night, be aggressive toward the fast ball, get something to hit and drive it if you can. That was exactly what we were able to do in the first two innings and then tack on six in the sixth, so it was big for us."
Center fielder Evan Chambers played a big role in the Spikes' offensive production. Chambers went 3-for-3 and scored two runs. It was a big confidence boost for the Florida native whose batting average had dipped to .191.
"This is what he needed," Robinson said. "Once people figure out you can play they start figuring out how to beat you. And that's what happened to all of our new guys."
The aggressive tone that Robinson said he felt his players had at the plate stemmed from the performance of starting pitcher Kyle McPherson.
McPherson (2-2) set the tone for the team by pitching six complete innings and only surrendering one earned run. While the right hander struck out four batters and walked two, he was able to control the game by forcing the Jammers into double plays. The solid defense behind McPherson allowed him to settle down and work on his control.
"I thought that Mac, his stuff was better tonight," Robinson said of McPherson. "His command wasn't as good as he wants it to be but even with that he battled his fanny off. He just wouldn't let them catch us and kept defending innings for us."
The Spikes will try to maintain their hot bats when they begin a three-game series at home against the Aberdeen IronBirds Tuesday.
