Mike Kaffee
Hurricanes Baseball Reporter
[email protected]
Miami drops the series to the Deacons of Wake on another lackluster performance at the plate that was unable to put together consecutive hits with runners on base. Yesterday, with RISP they were 0-8, today 0-7. Batting both days below the Mendoza line (.161) you just cannot execute at this level and expect miracles to generate on their own. For being a hitter’s park, it was another day of 5 hit ball. This does not look like the same team of last week that put together 37 runs and pounded out 42 hits over the course of two days. Unlike the Canes, given the opportunity Wake was able to capitalize every time on poor defensive plays and having runners in scoring position. For Miami, it was strikeout, strikeout, strikeout. Fourteen times today they stepped up to the plate and came away with nothing to show for it. Getting picked off first twice did not exactly help their cause. Whether they can turn this around overnight is yet to be seen. Facing a possible SWEEP, we won’t have the caliber of pitching to hold off a very potent Wake offense, so our bats better show that they’re ready to play some serious baseball.
One notable change in the lineup saw the return of Dario Gomez playing center batting 7th. Edgardo moved from center to left. Gage Ziehl is pitching for the Canes.
Wake got a wakeup call in the first with Yoyo going yard to left 382′ to give Miami an early 1-0. Miami was able to savor this lead briefly with the Deacons answering in their half of the first with a SF to right.
For the next three innings, Karson settled down, retiring the next 13 of 14 Deacon hitters. Both teams were deadlocked at one apiece with Gage’s pitch count at 46 at the end of four.
In the 5th, Wake broke the stalemate generated by a poorly executed botched DP by Blake Cyr on what should have been a 6-4-3 DP. Blake can definitely hit, but his defensive skills are lacking in having a weak arm and not very well positioning himself on the field. Back-to-back singles break the deadlock at one and Wake takes the lead for the first time today 2-1.
Miami tried to answer in the 6th with a one-out double by Zach. Moved to 3rd on a WP but what they have done all series, unable to move the runner forward leaving him stranded on third. The same result was in the 8th with a one-out double and a failed FC 5-6 leaving runners on the corners and not being able to capitalize on their miscue. Another lost opportunity among many.
As for Wake, given the opportunity after breaking the deadlock at one adds an additional run in the 6th with back-to-back doubles for a two-run lead. An insurance run in the 8th with their 3rd double of the day insured the series win.
Our bats have not been there all series. Being unable to put together a pair of hits in any one inning is not a sign of competitive baseball. Gage’s pitching was solid but did not get the offensive and defensive support to secure the win. The BP for the second day was also solid with just one run and one hit in 5.1 innings from Chris Scinta and Alejandro Torres. The offense has to contribute more. Yoyo was the only player with multiple numbers: 2-4 (double,HR,RBI).
Alejandro Rosario is scheduled to pitch and there is no telling which Rosario will take to the mound and how long he might last. The BP is pretty much all available and, hopefully, we won’t have to use many and Rosario will pitch the game of his career. If he is as he has been all season and if nothing comes from the offense expect the worse and the SWEEP.
