The road got them again.
Though the State College Spikes (5-3) has won all five of its home games this season, the road continued to do them in, as the squad lost Tuesday night’s game at the Batavia Muckdogs — an affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals — at Dwyer Stadium in Batavia, New York, 3-1.
With the loss, the Spikes dropped to 1-3 on the road this season.
In the low-scoring game, the Spikes wasted a strong effort from 17-year-old phenom Luis Heredia, who tossed five innings of one run ball.
The Muckdogs had two runs in the first two innings and would not score again until the seventh, but the Spikes could not make up the difference.
The only Spike to cross home plate was Yhonathan Barrios in the top of the fourth inning after stealing second base and scoring on left fielder Walker Gourley a deep RBI triple to right field.
Heredia, who is ranked the fifth-best prospect in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ farm system according to Baseball America, fanned three in his outing. His ERA was raised to 1.00 on the day after he threw four shutout innings in his professional debut on Thursday.
He did, however, give up eight hits.
Despite his efforts, Heredia did not quite get the win, but showed just what kind of a competitor he is, shortstop Walker Gourley said.
Manager Dave Turgeon had a mound visit in the fifth with young Heredia and asked him if he wanted the hitter. He did.
Heredia had two more strike-outs that inning before retiring from the mound for the game.
The Spikes had no trouble connecting the bat to the ball with seven hits, but following through on their opportunities was not a theme of the night.
This was the second game of the three-game set against the Muckdogs. The Spikes won, 7-4, on Monday night.
