GEORGIA TECH: GAME 2

Jackets even the series taking game two decisively 9-4. Cam Jones did it all for the Jackets throwing a complete game and going 4-5 (2 doubles) at the plate. Tech flipped the page on the Canes slamming the book shut by the 5th  as the Miami batters struggled to come up with any game plan both at bat and on the hill. Tech put up 9 unanswered runs through the 5th with the Mercy Rule at their doorstep before the Canes could generate some runs. Until the 5th, Jones had held the Canes to one hit coming in the 1st inning and one hit batter in the 4th. Miami finally showed a bit of life in the 6th with a pair of HRs and adding a run in the 6th and 9th, but too little and definitely too late to stop the hard-charging Ramblin Wreck who scored big early and coasted across the finish line to await the rubber match tomorrow

With Jason Torres out with elbow soreness, a new face appeared playing first base. Carlos Perez exchanged his catcher’s mitt for a first base glove playing the position for the first time in his college career. JD moved back to SS replacing Jimenez who did not have a productive day on the field yesterday. The rest of the lineup was unchanged.

Rafe struggled not being able to get through the first inning unscathed. He managed the first two outs relatively quickly before the bottom fell out. One strike away from having a scoreless inning, Matthew Ellis turns his at-bat into a walk, followed by a single and another walk to load the bases. Payton Green doubles down the left field line clearing the bases and giving the Jackets a 3-0 lead.

In the third, the Jackets add another run again hugging the LF line for an RBI double. Another run in the 4th on a hit batter, SAC, and RBI single to extend their score to 5-0. Then came the 5th and the Ramblin Wreck went turbo-charged sending 10 players to the plate and coming away with 4 runs on 3 hits, 3 walks, and one hit batter. Had BL on 3 separate occasions. Miami had to utilize 3 pitchers to attempt to stop the bleeding which Chris Diaz was able to do leaving 3 stranded on base. End of 5, Tech sitting on a 9-0 lead looking at the Mercy Rule in two innings unless Miami can get things going.

While Georgia Tech was having free reign over Rafe scoring in every inning except the second through 5, the Cane batters were still searching for the key to unlock the closet to reclaim the bats they put away after winning yesterday’s game. Only one hit coming in the first with a two-out single by Daniel. The only other base runner through the first five was Edgardo leading off the 4th by getting hit. Cam Jones was in total control with some amazing help from his second baseman Mike Becchetti who made one great play after another.

With the MR looming on the horizon, JD Urso finally found that lost key opening the door with his first Collegiate HR hitting the RF foul post. The umps spent close to 5 minutes in review trying to figure out where the ball touched down. This brought new life to the dugout and three batters later Daniel Cuvet hit a no-doubter 398 feet for his 15th of the year. Miami would have to really pull the rabbit out of the hat with just 3 innings left trailing 9-2.

Chris Diaz was doing his job after relieving Brandon Olivera who like Rafe was unable to contain the runaway Wreck. After Miami finally was able to get on the board in the 6th with a pair of runs they continued at the plate with Jack getting Miami’s 4th hit followed by Lorenzo’s ground-rule double to right saving Jones momentarily from the Cane’s 3rd run. Runners on 2nd and 3rd Carlos hits into a 4-3 ground out giving the Canes #3. Down by 6 into the 9th, the Canes were not going to end it without leaving a parting goodbye and a warning to the Jackets that this resurgence of runs would be more of the same tomorrow. They part with a final run in the 9 with a lead-off single by Dorian making his way home on a pair of ground outs to second 4-3. Too little, too late but the message was sent out: we will continue to fight until the final out.

Offensively, same-o story no hitting, no runs. Just when you think they have found the rhythm once again they disappoint. 6 hits and only one through the 5th. If not for the two HRs (Daniel Cuvet, JD Urso) and the double by Lorenzo Carrier, there would not be anything positive to write about. Daniel was the only Cane with multiple hits: 2-4(HR,RBI). It was not a good offensive display from a team fighting for its very survival.

The only bright spot to come out of today’s pitching was the outing of Chris Diaz. He pitched three scoreless innings allowing just one hit, striking out 4. With limited arms on whom JD can turn to in the BP, he needs to be cautious in not overusing Chris coming off a season-ending injury last season.

If the word desperate is overused, it needs to be mentioned every game to the players and have it sink in, that they have to start hitting regularly, being flawless in the field, and shutting the opposition on the mound. Tomorrow, 1PM it is time to open the door and start swinging away. This is a must-win road trip. Go Canes.