The Lake Monsters were the first to strike.
They were the last to strike as well.
In between was the Spikes’ one run by catcher Ryan Hornback, who made it home on a sacrifice fly out into center field by first baseman Samuel Gonzalez.
The Spikes lost in the third and final game of their series against the Vermont Lake Monsters – an affiliate of the Oakland Athletics in at Centennial Field in Burlington, VT with a score of 2-1.
The Lake Monsters swept the series, leaving the Spikes on their way back to State College before a day off on Tuesday, July 10.
The Lake Monsters nearly doubled the hits the Spikes had throughout the game.
“We were hitting the ball hard but we were hitting it right at ‘em, and sometimes that’s just the way it goes,” Hornback said.
The Spikes hung on throughout the game with pitchers Jason Creasy and Emmanuel De Leon keeping the game tied throughout the first seven innings.
Right-hand pitcher Jason Creasy started off the game pitching five innings giving up only five hits, and one run, had one error, and managed one strike out.
Despite the five hits, he had a quality start Hornback said.
Following up from the bullpen was Emmanuel De Leon who allowed only two hits, and one walk, while striking out four in the two innings he pitched.
“De Leon pitches really hard, upwards to mid ninties,” Hornback said. “Creasy is low nineties still, but he works off his change-up.”
The Lake Monsters scored again in the bottom of the eighth giving them the lead that would win them the game.
The Spikes will have one of only two days off this season on Tuesday.
