For a team that was looking to win a game for the first time in three days, a late surge by the Batavia Muckdogs couldn't have come at a worse time for the State College Spikes.
After holding a one-run lead heading into the ninth inning, the Spikes (34-36) defense faltered as they fell to the Muckdogs 8-7. The Spikes let the Muckdogs (36-34) begin the ninth inning with a double down the right field line and then watched as their lead slipped away beneath the bright lights at Dwyer Stadium.
"We just didn't play good enough defense in the final two innings," right fielder David Rubinstein said. "We gave up a double, then mishandled a bunt, had an intentional walk and then the walk-off single to left field ended it."
Just one night after holding a post-game practice that Rubinstein said was used to make sure everyone on the team took accountability for his play, the errors that plagued them Sunday night showed up late in the game.
Pitcher Marc Baca (1-3) surrendered two hits, two walks and an earned run in the critical final frame, but his most costly mistake came when he mishandled a sacrifice bunt by shortstop Ryan Jackson. Baca fielded the bunt but was charged with a throwing error when the runner on second base came around to score the tying run.
Left fielder Kyle Conley would go on to ruin the Spikes' hopes of extra innings as his single to left field scored the game-winning run.
"Last night's practice wasn't out of frustration, it was to teach us," Rubinstein said. "But what is frustrating is that we out played them for the majority of the game and then in the last two innings we just didn't play well enough."
While the defense faltered, the Spikes offense kept them in the game for most of the night.
The offense was led by Rubinstein who went 3-for-5 with a double, a triple and a home run. Rubinstein's three RBI's were a team high and his homer to center field in the top of the sixth inning was his third of the season.
Designated hitter Justin Byler, second baseman Elevys Gonzalez and center fielder Evan Chambers each chipped in two hits apiece.
Byler followed Rubinstein's deep ball with a two-run homer in the top of the fifth inning that helped the Spikes take a one-run lead. The back-to-back home runs helped the Spikes build a two-run lead and helped them support their five pitchers.
Starting pitcher Phillip Irwin only lasted two thirds of an inning after he surrendered four earned runs on four hits. Irwin's 0.69 ERA was the team's best entering the game, but after the start it inflated to 2.02.
Irwin was relieved by right hander Brandon Holden who recorded the final out of the inning. Holden forced catcher Luis De La Cruz to foul out to first baseman Aaron Baker and end the Muckdogs' four run first inning.
The pitching staff settled down when lefty Nelson Pereira entered the game and pitched four innings without surrendering a hit. Pereira recorded nine strikeouts during his outing and only issued two walks.
While Baca was charged with the loss and his first blown save of the season, Rubinstein insists that even though the team is eliminated from playoff contention, they still have a lot to play for.
"This whole year we were focused on the process of winning and not so much the result," Rubinstein said. "But from here on out in the last week or so, we just need to continue to pay for each other."
