By: Mike Kaffee, Hurricanes Baseball Reporter
LONG ball proved to be the difference as the Canes take game 1 behind the strong pitching performance of Daniel Federman who returned to the Friday night spotlight. Daniel had his moments in the 3rd and 5th where it looked to be faltering held on and completed 6 innings before Anthony Arguelles came in the 7th holding onto a 3-1 lead. This is due to the bats of Big Brother,CDC, for his first of the season and Alex Toral for HR #3. Anthony had to have a visit from JD to settle him down with the tying runs on base before recording the final out. Mr UNTOUCHABLE took it from there in pitching two hitless innings striking out the final four batter to earned Carson Palmquest his 8th save.
No major change from what is becoming the regular starting 9 come the weekend series. DC returns to catching duties and Raymond Gil, batting 7th, as DH. Daniel after coming off a quality win in relief last Sunday, Gino looked towards the person he felt most confident with to open this series replacing Rosario out with a strain oblique muscle over his rib cage. They are reporting this is a day to day determination,but according to my research we might be looking at 4-6 weeks and depending how serious, recovery may take longer. He might have been keeping quiet of his injury for concern of losing the the star Friday limelight. Against FSU only lasted 1.1 innings and Va while completed 6 innings he did not looked his usual self. Both games did not record a single strikeout and at moments had control issues. This was Daniel’s first start since the NCS and with opportunity once again knocking, he was determined to earn his starting role once again.
Miami struck first coming in the opening inning with Anthony Vilar making it 5 straight games with a hit (double). Advances to third on a WP and Yoyo brings him on home with a SF to center.
Duke didn’t start threatening until the third when the first two batters had back to back singles. They advance one base on a SAC and with runners on 2nd and 3rd loaded the bases with a walk (1 out). Appeared that Daniel was resuming his old self when a grounder to short ended the threat with a 6-4-3 DP.
The wind was playing a major factor in keeping the ball inside the park and play havoc with the players on fly balls. The radio announcers were discussing CDC still looking for his 1st HR of the season, when he did just that to open the 4th on a line drive over the RF fence to extend the lead 2-0.
The 5th was the second time Daniel showed that he might be coming to the end of his day. Duke delivers with 3 straight hits(double,single(RBI),single) putting runners on the corners with 2 outs. Visit to the the mound settles Daniel down to record the final out 5-3.
With 75 pitches, the question was whether Daniel would come out to pitch the 6th. Gino having confidence in his veteran decides one more inning and Daniel delivers striking out the first 2 and sending a routine fly to center. At 86 pitches he turns the ball over to Anthony Arguelles. Daniel’s day is done giving up a single run on 5 hits and 4 Strikeouts.
The bottom of the 6th, Miami picked up an insurance run complements of Alex Toral sending a similar line drive special delivery over the RF fence.
Anthony having now a 2 run lead to work, found rough sailing giving up a pair walks and a pass ball but managed to hold off with a fly out to left to end the inning.
As has been the usual custom of Gino on close games going into the 8th, he is not taking any chances and goes with Mr Reliability: THE STOPPER Carson Palmquist. Already with 7 saves and an ERA of 1.08, Carson shows why he now leads the nation with 8 saves just needing 27 pitches to strikeout the last 4 of 6 batters he faced. With the save brought his ERA below 1 to .96.
Offensively, Miami’s roller coaster continues it confusing pattern of ups and downs, twists and turns. After recording a high of 21 runs and 19 hits on Wed against FAU, they dramatically dropped off to just 3 runs on 6 scattered hits. Fortunately 5 of the 6 hits were for extra bases or I might be writing a different ending. 4 of the 5 players streaking are still doing so with the exception of Lala who went 0-4 tonight. Yoyo’s triple 6 straight games with a hit; CDC also made it 6 with a solo HR; Vilar 8 reaching base safety with a double and Alex now at 7 to reach base safely. No one tonight with multiple hits.
Defensively, No recorded errors. Yoyo did in the 3rd got a late start on charging in on a ball which opened the 3rd that went down for a hit. Close call but was not costly with a BL inning ending DP. Wind with gusting winds up to 20 MPH made for some very interesting outs. expect more of the same tomorrow
Pitching, a commendable second win for Daniel and another great save for Carson. Why Gino likes to go with Arguelles first in relief when he has better arms to go with I can not figure out.He has been in problems the last couple of outings. Fortunately he worked himself out of it tonight.
Tomorrow, we go for the important series win with Victor Mederos on the mound. First pitch 7PM.
