Mike Kaffee
Hurricanes Baseball Reporter
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Canes roll on with their 9th straight win with a 3 hit pitching performance coming from the BP which seemed to have turned a corner. Jordan Dubberly left the game during his warmup to start the 5th with an undetermined injury to the area around his right calf. He was seen holding it and the trainer immediately came out. Possible just cramping due to the humidity and hopefully nothing more serious. It was the call to the BP and they answered magnificently not giving up a walk, hit, or run for their efforts. Torres, Mcfarlane, Gallo, Ziehl, and Walters put in an inning apiece striking out 9 with only one batter reaching first (hit by pitch) coming in the 5th. The max anyone pitcher threw was 15 pitches with Andrew Walters closing for his 9th save by striking out all three Eagles for a well-deserved win coming from the BP.
The only difference to the starting nine was Zach Levenson batting 8th as the DH. The rest of the lineup was the same as Sunday. Jordan Dubberly earned the first of two mid-week games in his first start of the season. Jake Garland will more than likely carry the torch for Wednesday’s game with FIU. Having five games this week, I am assuming that Gino will want minimum usage of the BP (inning apiece) saving their arms for the big weekend series with Virginia.
The Eagles looking to avenge their 11-7 loss last week went on the attack early with back-to-back singles to start the game. Toss in a throwing error by Dominic and the Eagles are threatening with runners on 2nd and 3rd no outs. SF to right and like last Wednesday, Miami is trailing to open the game.
Unlike last week, they quickly responded in their half of the 1st with a one out walk to Edgardo followed by a line-drive double off the LF wall by Yoyo. Runners on 2nd and 3rd, Max goes opposite field for an RBI single scoring Edgardo from third. Runners on the corners, Jacob follows Max with an infield single to short which was originally ruled an error but later overturned to a hit scoring Yoyo. Miami takes a 2-1 lead and never trailed for the remainder of the game.
Miami added to their one-run lead in the second with a one-out single by Gaby followed by CJ doubling down the RF line. Edgardo, is still not able to find a hit after going 0-13 during the Duke series striking out 7 times grounding out 4-3 but gets an RBI in the process.
The Eagles got their third and final hit of the evening in the 4th coming after two strikeouts and the count full. Appeared to be a routine out to left but the ball kept on traveling for a solo HR just out of the reach of Edgardo.
Miami would have to wait until the 6th inning to get the run back with a one out single by Zach to left. Zack advanced to 2nd on a failed P/O (E1) and continued his round of the bases with a WP. Gaby walks giving Miami runners on the corners and Edgardo steps up to the plate. Now at 0-15 with another strikeout to add to the 7 during the Duke series, singles through the left side taking snapping a long drought for a player who was once hitting over .400 a week ago. End of 6, Miami gets a bit of a breathing room with a 4-2 lead.
Miami adds an insurance run in the 8th with a lead-off walk to Dorian who advances to 2nd on a WP. Zach fouls out to 3rd. Jacoby Long PH for Gaby executes a perfect bunt down the 3rd baseline catching their defense totally by surprise advancing Dorian to third having reached 2nd on a WP. Top of the order CJ gets the insurance run with a SF to center extending the lead to 3.
Not taking any chances, the call for Mr. Automatic. 11 Pitches and 3 straight strikeouts later, Andrew earns his 9th save, and Miami’s 9th straight win. FIU hopefully tomorrow will make it ten.
Except for the 1st inning, the Canes continued to struggle to put up multiple hits and runs. Of the 10 hits, two were for extra bases: CJ(double); Yoyo(double). The rest small ball. Only two with multiple numbers: Jacob Burke 2-4(RBI); Zach Levenson 2-4. If we expect to come away with victories against Virginia we are going to have to put up better numbers at the plate. Our starters can’t totally carry the burden this weekend. Our BP is definitely putting up quality numbers but the offense can not afford to be sluggish at the plate. Virginia will smoke us unless our bats do the smoking
Before we can look ahead to the weekend series we can not let our guard down with our visitors from across town. First pitch tomorrow at 6PM.
