JAMESTOWN, N.Y. - Chris Diaz hit his first professional triple and Jesus Vasquez drove in another run, but Clay Holmes was knocked out of the box in his shortest start as a professional and the State College Spikes could not overcome the Jamestown Jammers' early offensive scoring burst in a 6-1 defeat on Sunday afternoon at Russell Diethrick Park.
Holmes (4-2) went just 1 1/3 innings on the mound and took the loss after allowing three runs on two hits and five walks. The right-hander also struck out one batter in the effort. Holmes's previous shortest outing in 2012 season, his first as a pro, was 3 2/3 innings on July 2 at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park against Batavia.
Jamestown (22-30) took advantage of the Spikes' (28-26) difficulties on the hill to establish an early lead. After two walks in the first inning, Anthony Gomez brought in the first run of the game with a single to center field. Two more free passes in the second inning and a sacrifice bunt led to Michael Main bringing both runners in with another single.
The Jammers added another run in the fourth when Yefri Perez hit a solo home run to left field to extend the lead to 4-0. However, the Spikes were able to respond in the top of the fifth, starting with Diaz's three-base hit off of the right field wall. Vasquez followed with a double to left-center field to drive in his second run in as many nights, but was thrown out at home attempting to score from third two batters later to end the inning.
That would be the extent of the Spikes' offensive counterattack, as Jamestown scored in the fifth on another RBI single by Gomez and in the seventh on a run-scoring base hit from Viosergy Rosa to cap the offense.
Five-year Major League veteran Jo-Jo Reyes also made an appearance on the mound for State College on rehab assignment from Triple-A, yielding a run on three hits over two innings of work in the sixth and seventh frames.
The Spikes also turned a season-high three double plays, each coming off of the bat of the Jammers' Pedro Mendoza.
Mason Hope (2-3) picked up the win for the Jammers with five innings of work, giving up the lone Spikes run on a total of three hits and two walks.
Jesus Solorzano scored three runs and notched two hits for Jamestown, including a triple.
The Spikes will head home for the New York-Penn League All-Star break, with three exceptions. Tuesday night, Tyler Gaffney, D.J. Crumlich and Jacob Stallings will represent the Spikes on the National League All-Star squad as they meet the American League All-Stars in the 2012 New York-Penn League All-Star Game at Eastwood Field in Niles, Ohio. Outfielder Barrett Barnes was also named to the team, but will have to miss the game due to injury.
After the All-Star break, the Spikes will start a four-game homestand on Wednesday with a 7:05 p.m. matchup against the Jammers at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. Starting pitchers for the game are as yet unannounced.
