DUKE: GAME 3

Miami SWEPT in extra innings 11-10. Pitching and defense were the keys to the first sweep EVER of a Miami team to the Duke Blue Devils. No lead is EVER safe when it depends upon pitching to close the door. Miami held a 6-run lead going into the 8th only to see it reduced to zero, compliments of the BP, and 2 unregistered errors by the outfield to send the game into extra innings. Once again, the offense put up the runs in the 11th (3) only to have the BP falter handing the Canes their worst loss of the season.

The only change to the lineup was Jack Scanlon catching batting 6th and  JD Urso playing short batting 9th.

The offense didn’t wait until the 6th to show they were ready to play and come away with a win; avoiding the sweep. The same can be said for Herick Hernandez, “The Hialeah Fire” whose flame never burned brighter. Miami got off to a four-run lead scoring a pair of runs in the 3rd and 4th. Dorian doubled in the third scoring Urso and Villegas both on via walks gave Herick the incentive to hold up his end of securing the win. Through the first three innings only allowed one hit striking out 4. In the 4th, the Offense added two more runs with an RBI double by Carrier scoring  Costello who singled before Carrier’s double. JD Urso was robbed of a hit by a diving grab denying Carrier from scoring by the SS however Jacoby Long would not be denied sending the ball by the shortstop scoring Lorenzo. 4 Unanswered runs until a bit of ugliness entered into play.

Miami leading 4-0 into Duke’s half of the 4th, Ben Miller to lead off. What should have been a routine flyout to right, Costello loses the ball in the sun and it drops to the side of him allowing Miller a free pass to third (triple). Herick fought back through another Miami misfortune striking out the next two only to lose a full count to a single scoring Duke’s initial run. Miami had the shift on and the ball was hit where Urso would have been without the shift.

At 100 pitches, Herick’s day completed, turns the ball over to his BP completing 6 innings with a career-high 10 strikeouts and what should have been no-hit ball which opened the door for Duke. Brandon Olivera would be the first of six from the BP each slicing a piece of one’s heart away with each pitch. They were assisted by two critical no-catches by the OF to watch a 6-run lead in the 8th dwindle to nothingness.

Brandon Olivera relieved Herick in the 7th and struggled needing 30 pitches without a run being saved on Scanlon’s pickoff 2-5-4 to get out of the inning.

Miami adds what should have been enough insurance for the win with 3 additional runs on a WP scoring Torres from third and Carrier slamming one over the LF fence (420) for the first HR by either side the entire series for a pair of RBIs.

With a 7-1 lead, JD turns to Scinta to set up Robert to close for the victory. That was the plan, but Duke had other plans going through 3 pitching changes and 6 runs to tie the score. Duke would open the inning with a lead-off single to Ben Miller setting the stage for 10 more players coming to the plate and becoming a one-team wrecking crew. Scinta was relieved after giving up a walk and RBI single after 7 pitches. Myles Caba next in line with a recorded RBI double to start misjudged by Gaby Gutierrez who had replaced Villegas in left and moved to right replacing Costello. Caba lasted long enough to walk his second batter to load the bases. Two batters and five pitches were enough for JD to make the walk and bring in our “Closer” who is anything but. Robert comes in with BL and shows no control from the opening pitch. With the count 1-0, hits the batter to narrow the lead to 3. He walks the next on a 5-pitch walk and the lead is down to 2. SF to right caught by Edgardo for the second out but the lead has gone from six to one. Runners on 1st and 2nd, Ben Miller who started the inning with a lead-off single sticks it to Robert with a ground-rule double misplayed by Edgardo. Fortunately, it bounced over the wall or the game would have ended there. Unfortunately, Edgardo should never have let it get to that point. Duke comes all the way back from a 6-run deficit.

A scoreless 10th inning each side going down in order. The 11th, the offense would take it to the Duke BP putting up a big 3 spot only to watch our BP not able to hold on to the lead. Urso opened the inning with a walk sending it back to the top of the order. Jacoby with his third hit of the day, RBI double. Two batters later Cuvet with his second hit of the series comes through with an RBI single through the middle. Dorian follows with a single advancing Cuvet to third on the CF mishandling the ball (E8). Runners on the corners, Torres strikes out ending a 11-game hitting streak. Runners on the corners, Scanlon singles to left driving in Cuvet. Dorian’s one for stretching out an extra base is thrown out going into 3rd. The offense did what they had to do giving Chestnutt a 3-run lead.

Miller who started the 8th with a hit and tied the game at the end of the 8th, led off with a single through the middle. Chestnutt walks the next batter, followed by an RBI single. The end of the road for Chestnutt getting “roasted” once more. JD digging deep goes with midweek starter Ashton Crowther. Count 0-1 to Albright lays down a SAC bunt picked up by Ashton and gets charged with a throwing error to first to load the bases with no outs. A disputed call when Dorian who was holding the ball (hidden ball trick) tags the runner at second was ruled under much discussion and replay ruled a balk (?) (foot not on rubber) and all runners advanced narrowing the lead to one. The next batter intentionally walked to load the bases. 2-0 count to Wallace Clark, 0-3 for the day, singles to center scoring 2 in Duke’s biggest win of the season and handing Miami its biggest loss, losing a substantial lead twice.

The offense did all they could do but not enough to stay ahead of our bullpen and misguided defense in the outfield. How many times do you have to go to the well and come up dry? Three players went above and beyond in doing what they had to do: Jacoby Long 3-6 (double,RBI); Dorian Gonzalez

3-5(Double,2RBIs); Lorenzo Carrier 2-5(double,HR,3RBIs)

Herick Hernandez was lights out but unfortunately, the rest of his pitching buddies could not hold up to their end. They accounted for 10 of the 11 runs and 13 of the 14 hits. That one hit and run charged to Herick should be instead charged to Costello for his losing the ball in the sun.

Miami once again must lick their wounds and try to rebound against FAU at home which they have already lost twice before venturing north to Tallahassee in the hope of turning the tables of losing 5 in a row of their last ACC games. First pitch Tues at the Light against the Owls 6PM.