FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY: GAME 4

Miami retains the title of “King of the 305” downing our cross-town rival

6-5. With the all-important series with Pitt two days away, JD decided to go with “Pitch by Committee” saving all arms which will determine who goes and who stays home. We have to win at least one game, but better to win the series to ensure a Tournament bid and continued life. We will need a whole lot of Mark Light Magic to win 4 straight at Charlotte, but maybe, just maybe, the Cardiac Canes will surprise us all with amazing pitching, solid hitting, and flawless fielding.

Tonight, we got a bit of solid hitting all coming in the first inning and then relapsing into the familiar cone of silence for the next 5 innings. Miami finally got back on track in the 6th scoring in 3 consecutive innings but the BP almost gave back all that was gained. Miami holding on by one run, JD brought in Myles Caba after our so-called “Closer” again not getting the job done. Myles just needed 11 pitches in the 9th and two strikeouts to secure the victory and capture the city crown as Miami retains the title as the “King of the 305”

Miami came out swinging in the first with 4 consecutive hits. In the first 15 minutes, it looked like it was going to be a complete blowout until, once again, bad decision-making by Daniel Cuvet put a damper on what was heading toward knocking out their starter Kevin Martin before the first inning ended. Jacoby Long on the second pitch singled through the middle followed by Edgardo doing likewise also on the second pitch but his was for a double down the left field line advancing Jacoby to third with Daniel coming to the plate. Daniel looking for #21 was almost rewarded striking the wall in right. What followed is what we have seen much too often this year from Daniel trying to stretch a single into a double and getting caught doing so. A run did score but instead of having runners on the corners with no outs, it became a runner on third with one out. Dorian with the 4th straight hit, singles to left scored Edgardo from third but lost out of Daniel adding an extra run to the total. Perez reached base on a failed DP E6 on the relay. Jack was robbed of his 8th homer of the season by CF Armando Becerra reaching over the wall in center and bringing it back into the field of play for the final out. What might have been without Daniel’s trying to stretch a single into a double?

With a depleted BP, JD decided to switch gears and start Chris Diaz, who saw an inning of action on Sunday, instead of Ashton Crowther, who has shown he does not have it as the midweek starter. Chris cruised through the first only striking one batter but started the second off on the wrong foot with a lead-off HR to Alex Ulloa his 9th of the year followed by a double. As hot as the Panthers’ bats sizzled, it fizzled with the next 3 striking out. The end of two Canes’ lead was cut in half 2-1.

The third inning brought a scare when Jacoby leading off got hit solidly in the head and was down for a good 10 seconds without moving.  Gaby Gutierrez replaced Jacoby at first as he left the field to go into concussion protocol. In the interim, Gaby moved to left and Edgardo moved to center. Jacoby getting a clean bill of health returned to bat in the 5th and stayed in the game. It might have been better to have Gaby stay in and rest Jacoby for the weekend series as what would develop later in the game.

The third inning brought in Chris Scinta after Diaz gave up a lead-off single. Chris surrendered an initial walk followed by a single to tie the score at two. The score would remain tied at two until the 5th  with Brandon Olivera replacing Scinta.

Brandon led off the 5th hitting his first batter followed by a double placing runners on 2nd and 3rd. a SF to left and Panthers for a short time was one up on the Canes. Canes responded in the 6th to tie the score at 3 with a one-out hit batter (Cuvet) reaching first. For the second time this evening, brilliant base running left the Canes without a baserunner as Daniel gets picked off with too much of a lead-off of first. Dorian walks and crosses the plate on an RBI double by Carlos Perez giving Miami the lead once again, which this time they would hold onto.

Miami would add to their lead in the 7th and 8th, but it could have been for much more. In the 7th, the Canes would load the bases no outs and Jacoby strikes out. Canes still managed to salvage two runs with a walk and a 5-3 groundout. Following inning BL once again this time with two outs and again Jacoby at the plate and again strikes out. You have to wonder about someone who has been one of our most reliable batters striking out twice and whether he was feeling anything from earlier being hit in the head. That’s why I am second-guessing if it would have been wiser to have him sit out the remainder of a meaningless game.

Panthers trailing by three in the 8th, JD is still sticking with Brandon on the mound. That would quickly change after a double, single, WP had runners on 2nd and 3rd no-outs. Before the call to the BP Brandon secures a strikeout but JD decides to bring in “Closer” soon-to-be X “Closer” Nick Robert. He has been overused and has become ineffective. Right from the gecko, a WP(run) and a SF and the Panthers are within one run.

Not waiting to see if Robert would cause further damage the call is made to bring in Myles Caba to pitch the 9th. Without Walters to go to due to a shoulder injury there is limited choice to select from. Myles has been pitching well lately and was the right choice striking out two and needing 11 pitches to do so. I think we were looking at our new “closer” tonight. In securing the win it gave us a .500 midweek season. We will need a sweep against Pitt to save us from a losing season.

Offensively, no HRs to show but a better showing at the plate. The only player without a hit was Lorenzo Carrier who went 0-2 but did walk and had a SF. Everyone else had at least a hit with 3 players with multiple numbers: Daniel Cuvet 2-4(RBI), Dorian Gonzalez 2-4(RBI), and Carlos Perez 2-5 (2doubles,RBI). Additionally doubles by Edgardo Villegas and Lucas Costello.

No errors mental or otherwise which is a good thing. Pitching is going to be the issue this weekend. Our best chance will come Thursday with Gage throwing. He had issues this past weekend but Rafe and particularly Herick you just can’t count on them. Have to stay away from the BP as much as possible and the way to do this is with solid hitting and strong outings from our starters. It all comes down to this: win and move on, lose and bathe in the sun awaiting preseason in the fall. The first pitch Thurs is at 7PM