Uviedo recalled as part of Pirates’ roster shuffling

By Guy Cipriano – gciprian@centredaily.com

WILLIAMSPORT — The late-season roster shuffles within the Pittsburgh Pirates farm system continue to impact the State College Spikes.

The Pirates promoted closer Ronald Uviedo to full-season Hickory on Monday. Uviedo, who pitched Sunday against Williamsport, led the Spikes with 12 saves and 21 appearances.

The promotion comes less than two weeks after the Pirates sent Spikes ace Tony Watson to Hickory. Uviedo, a 20-year-old non-drafted free agent from Venezuela, is the fourth Spikes promoted to Hickory.

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8/27 – Spikes Game Notes

State College Spikes at Williamsport Crosscutters 

Game #64 / Road Game # 34

Historic Bowman Field – Williamsport, PA

RHP Brandon Williams ( 0-1, 2.08) vs. RHP Tyson Brummett (3-4, 3.09)

WHAT’S ON TAP TONIGHT/ON DECK TOMORROW:: The Spikes will wrap up the SawBuck season series tonight at Historic Bowman Field. With a loss tonight, the Spikes would drop the 2007 SawBuck Series, assuring that Spikes General Manager Rick Janac will serve as a Williamsport bat boy at Historic Bowman Field during the first Spikes-Crosscutters game. Tomorrow, the Spikes return back home to Medlar Field at Lubrano Park to take on the Batavia Muckdogs in a pivotal two-game series against former Manager Mark DeJohn and coach Mike Shildt. Tomorrow, Spikes Jersey Bags will be given away to the first 2,000 fans through the gates, while fans can enjoy a fireworks show following the game.

SPIKES STARTER: RHP BRANDON WILLIAMS will make just his third start of the year for the State College Spikes. Williams has taken the spot in the Spikes rotation of RHP Duke Welker, who was placed on the disabled list last week. Williams, who has been used primarily as a long reliever for the Spikes checks in with a 0-1 record and an ERA of 2.08. Brandon has worked 30.1 innings this year while issuing 30 hits. The righty from Tega Cuy, South Carolina has punched out 20 and walked 10, while opposing batters are hitting just .269 off Williams. Originally selected by the Pirates in the 29th round of last year’s draft, Williams holds the distinction of being the first player to ever don a uniform for both the State College Spikes and their sister organization, the Altoona Curve (AA – Pirates). Williams made two relief appearances for the Curve on July 4 at Trenton (1.1 IP, 5H, 3ER, 1K) and at Bowie on July 7 (2.0 IP, 1H, 1ER, 1K). Aside from tonight, Williams has faced the Crosscutters once before this season when he made an August 16 relief appearance, pitching 4.1 innings, giving up two runs on four hits, while striking out a season-high five, and walking a season-high three.

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Spikes Game Notes

STATE COLLEGE SPIKES (29-28) vs. BATAVIA MUCKDOGS (23-34)

Wednesday, August 22nd – 7:05 PM

Dwyer Stadium – Batavia, NY

Game #58 / Road Game # 30

RHP Brandon Williams (0-1, 2.22) vs. LHP Jon Stambaugh(2-1, 2.76)

PINCKNEY DIVISION STANDINGS

TEAM W L PCT GB

Auburn 34 24 .586 –

Mahoning Valley 31 26 .544 2.5

State College 29 28 .509 4.5

Batavia 23 34 .404 10.5

Williamsport 22 35 .386 11.5

Jamestown 20 36 .357 13.0

SPIKES STARTING PITCHER:

RHP BRANDON WILLIAMS will make just his second start of the year for the State College Spikes. Williams has taken the spot in the Spikes rotation of RHP Duke Welker, who was placed on the disabled list yesterday. Williams, who has been used primarily as a long reliever for the Spikes checks in with a 0-1 record and an ERA of 2.22. Brandon has worked 24.1 innings this year while issuing just 24 hits. The righty from Tega Cuy, South Carolina has punched out 17 and walked 10, while opposing batters are hitting just .261 off Williams. Originally selected by the Pirates in the 29th round of last year’s draft, Williams holds the distinction of being the first player to ever don a uniform for both the State College Spikes and their sister organization, the Altoona Curve (AA – Pirates). Williams made two relief appearances for the Curve on July 4 at Trenton (1.1 IP, 5H, 3ER, 1K) and at Bowie on July 7 (2.0 IP, 1H, 1ER, 1K).

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8/21 – Spikes Game Notes

STATE COLLEGE SPIKES (29-27) vs. BATAVIA MUCKDOGS (22-34)Tuesday, August 21st – 7:05 PM

Dwyer Stadium – Batavia, NY

Game #57 / Road Game # 29

RHP Matt Foust ( 2-4, 3.63) vs. RHP Blake King (1-3, 4.11)

SPIKES STARTING PITCHER: RHP MATT FOUST will make the start for the Spikes this evening. The 6th round selection in the 2007 MLB draft will be making his eleventh start of the season when he toes the rubber this evening. He enters tonight’s action with a 2-4 record and a 3.63 ERA. In 39.2 innings of work, the former Nebraska Cornhusker has allowed 23 runs, 16 of which were earned, on 30 hits while walking 28 and striking out 36. Foust’s 28 free passes are the sixth most in the league. He has posted a 1-3 record in five road starts, posting a 5.79 ERA over 18.2 innings of work. At Medlar Field at Lubrano Park he is 1-1 with a 1.71 ERA in five outings. Earlier this year, Foust made two starts against the Batavia Muckdogs but did not get any decisions. Over his 9.1 innings of work, he allowed two runs on five hits while walking five and striking out 11. While at Nebraska, Foust split time between the bullpen and the starting rotation during his junior year. The Overland Park, Kansas native went 2-4 with seven saves in 27 games.

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SPIKES LOOK TO DOUBLE UP AUBURN TONIGHT – 7:05

The Spikes bats woke up from a week long slumber with eight runs and 12 hits in last evening’s 8-4 win over Auburn. Tonight Moises Robles will look to make it two in a row at 7:05 p.m.STATE COLLEGE

STARTER: RHP MOISES ROBLES will make his ninth start of the season when he toes the rubber for State College this evening. Robles has a decision in all of his previous appearances and has been tagged with the loss in his last five outings. In 44.2 innings of work this season, the opposition is hitting .297 against Robles. In five starts on the road, Robles is 1-4 with a 4.23 ERA. In 26.0 innings of work, he has allowed 15 earned runs on 32 hits while walking four and striking out 17. Robles has lost his last five decisions, including his last start on July 28th against Auburn. Robles allowed only one run on five hits over 6.1 innings of work. Robles was selected in the Rule 5 Draft in 2007 from the New York Mets. In 2006 with the DSL Mets, Robles posted a 1-2 record with a 0.60 ERA over his 30.0 innings of work. He allowed only two earned runs on 23 hits while walking six and striking out 28.

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SPIKES LOOK TO DOUBLE UP THE DOUBLEDAYS – 7:05

Last weekend the Spikes took two of three from the Auburn Doubledays to get within 2.5 games of first. After being swept by the Mahoning Valley Scrappers the Spikes find themselves 5.5 games back.

STATE COLLEGE STARTER: RHP DUKE WELKER will get the ball for the Spikes this evening. Welker is 1-1 with a 2.61 ERA in four starts for State College. In 20.2 innings of work, he has allowed six runs on 21 hits while walking eight and striking out 16. Welker, the Pirates’ 2nd round selection in the 2007 MLB draft, was the second Razorback hurler selected in the first 70 picks as his team Nick Schmidt was selected 23rd overall by San Diego. In his only season at Arkansas, he held opponents to a .224 batting average. In three starts against Florida, MississippiState and Vanderbilt, the 6-7 hurler allowed only four earned runs and struck out 23 through 23.1 innings of work. Before transferring to Arkansas, Welker attended Seminole State JC (OK). Welker has also been drafted in the 39th round of the 2005 draft by the Seattle Mariners and in the 34th round of the 2003 draft out of Woodinville HS (WA).

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7/26 – Spikes Pre-Game Notes

State College Spikes (17-17) vs.
Aberdeen Ironbirds (16-18)

Thursday, July 26 – 7:05 PM

Medlar Field at Lubrano Park
University Park, PA

Game # 35 / Home Game # 18

RHP Nicolas Suero (0-2, 3.38) vs. RHP Zachary Jevne (2-2, 2.83)

SPIKES’ STARTER: RHP NICOLAS SUERO will make his fifth start of the year and his
seventh appearance overall for the 2007 season. Suero comes in to tonight’s start
with a 1-2 mark and a 3.86 ERA. The Elias Pinas, DR native hasn’t won since his
first game he appeared in versus Williamsport on June 19 when he went 5.0 scoreless
innings. Suero is trying to snap a personal two-game losing streak, as he dropped
decisions against Brooklyn (7/15) and Staten Island (7/20). In each of Suero’s
starts this year, the righty has pitched 5.0 innings or more. Suero has struck out
22 batters and has not issued a walk all year through 30.1 innings of work.

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Spikes return to State College for six-game stand

By Kate Aras

Collegian Staff Writer

Just as it was the last time the State College Spikes were in town, fans will be welcoming a new member to Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.

Last week, starting pitcher Duke Welker began his career as a Spike by pitching in the first and last game of the six-game home stand. Now as he becomes a regular, it is an infielder that will have his first chance to play in front of the home crowd.

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Spikes overpower Renegades

HUDSON VALLEY, N.Y. — State College didn’t get an abundance of hits against Hudson Valley, but the ones they did get in Thursday’s New York-Penn League baseball clash were struck with authority.

The Spikes had six extra-base hits, including solo home runs from Daniel Rios, Marcus Davis and Brian Friday, and got a solid effort from starter Matt Foust to knock off the Renegades 5-4 at Dutchess Stadium.

The victory gave State College (15-14) the final two games in the three-game series, the Spikes first series triumph since July 6 as they won 2-of-3 against Williamsport.

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Michael Ambrose promoted to Hickory

That will clear the way for third round draft pick Brian Friday to become the every day shortstop for the Spikes.

7/19 – Spikes Game Notes

STATE COLLEGE SPIKES (14-14) @ HUDSON VALLEY RENEGADES (13-15)

Game # 28 Road Game # 14

Dutchess Stadium, Wappings Falls, NY

Thursday, July 19, 2007
7:05 p.m.

RHP Matt Foust (0-2, 3.38) vs. RHP Joshua Johnson (1-1, 3.71)

THE STARTERS:

MATT FOUST will make his sixth start of the year for the Spikes. Foust was the
Pirates’ sixth round draft pick this past June, and has pitched solid though he
has yet to record a win. In his last start against the Brooklyn Cyclones, Foust
received a no decision after pitching 5.0 innings and giving up just one run without
giving up a single hit. In his last three starts, Foust has gone 5.0 innings or
more. His longest outing of the season came on July 2 versus Batavia when he went
6.0 scoreless innings against the Muckdogs. Foust tied a Spikes franchise record
with nine strikeouts against the Vermont Lake Monsters on July 8.

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Spikes bring end to losing skid against Renegades

FISHKILL, N.Y. — The State College Spikes have found a way to snap losing streaks.

They start a game with left-hander Tony Watson and end it with right-hander Ronald Uviedo.

Watson improved to 5-0 and Uviedo recorded his sixth save as the Spikes
defeated Hudson Valley 5-4 Wednesday at Dutchess Stadium.

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Spikes climb out of slump

By Kate Aras

Collegian Staff Writer

For
a team that was on its longest losing streak of the season, the possibility of going up against a knuckle-ball pitcher was added more pressure to an already dire situation.

Despite never facing a knuckle baller in their history, much less this season, the State College Spikes found a blessing in disguise in Hudson Valley Renegades pitcher Diego Echevierra.

In front of a crowd of opposing fans at the Dutchess Stadium in Wappingers Falls, NY, State College ended their losing streak at four games, defeating the Renegades 5-4.

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Spikes Snap Skid with 5-4 Win at Hudson Valley

The State College Spikes snapped a four game losing streak and took the middle game of a three-game set against the Hudson Valley Renegades by the score of 5-4 at Dutchess Stadium Wednesday night.

Tony Watson (5-0) once again was solid for State College, going 6.0 innings, giving up three runs and striking out five. Watson has won his last five decisions consecutively, while the Spikes are now 6-0 when he toes the rubber.

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Spikes’ problems continue against Hudson Valley

FISHKILL, N.Y. — The State College Spikes’ six-game roadtrip started with second baseman Matt Cavagnaro lining a single to center field.

Five hits scattered over nine innings later, many of the Spikes’ recent problems remained unsolved.

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