JAMESTOWN, N.Y. - Not even an evening shower could slow down the red-hot Jamestown Jammers.
The Jammers rallied past the State College Spikes, 2-1, in the opening game of a doubleheader Friday at Diethrick Park to win for the fourth straight time and fifth time in seven games this season.
The second game of Friday's twinbill was not finished at press time. The Spikes were leading the Jammers, 3-1, in the bottom of the fifth inning at press.
Article Photos
Times Observer photo by Allen Seybert
Entertaining bunch
Jamestown pitchers Helpi Reyes, left, and Ramon Del Orbe ham it up for the camera during a rain delay Friday at Diethrick Park. The Jammers were scheduled to play a pair of seven-inning games with the State College Spikes on Friday, but the start of the first game was delayed by more than an hour as showers passed through the area. For results, see page C-4.
Action started nearly 80 minutes after the scheduled 6:05 p.m. start time Friday when rain soaked the Jamestown area. When action finally got underway, it was the pitchers and defense that controlled action.
The Spikes (1-6) scored the game's first run in the top of the second thanks to the bat of Kirk Singer. Singer hit a shot between third base and short and Jamestown shortstop Yefri Perez made a diving attempt at the ball. While Perez managed to slow the ball down, Singer was safe and Justin Bencsko scored to make it 1-0.
State College starter Ryan Hafner controlled the Jammers through four innings and the Spikes made the 1-0 lead hold up until the bottom of the sixth. At that point, Jamestown's bats did just enough.
Rand Smith started the sixth with a walk and advanced to third on a single by Jobduan Morales. Marquise Cooper ran for Morales and promptly stole second.
Moments later, Smith tied the game when he scored on a groundout by Ryan McIntyre. What would prove to be the winning run scored when Cooper raced home on a ball hit by Pedro Mendoza.
Closer Alfredo Buret struck out two in the top of the seventh to earn his second save of the season.
Brent Keys and Morales had two hits each for the winners and Terrence Dayleg and Perez added one hit each.
Jamestown closes out the homestand Saturday at Diethrick Park. Stetson Allie, the Pittsburgh Pirates' 2010 second round pick in the amateur entry draft is scheduled to start for State College. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
Game 1
State College 010 000 0 - 1 4 4
Jamestown 000 002 x - 2 6 2
2b-Jobduan Morales (J). WP-Charles Wier. LP-Bryce Weidman. Save-Alfredo Buret.