Mike Kaffee
Hurricanes Baseball Reporter
[email protected]
Ga. Tech put on a hitting clinic striking early with 8 runs in the 3rd sending starter Alex McFarlane into early retirement. Gino after the game was quoted as stating “It all starts on the mound”. As we have seen this year, this is one of our Achilles heel. Our weekend rotation just isn’t able to get the job done not being able to get beyond the 5th for most of the season. Our other Achilles is our Sleeping Giant which we call our hitters. Only 7 hits were we able to put up on the board,4 of which coming with 2 outs. This combination of no reliable starting pitching and untimely hitting is a recipe that is crippling and will see for an early postseason termination UNLESS something or someone can stir the fires before becoming total ash.
Miami would be the first to score coming with two outs in the first but then it was all Tech with 13 unanswered runs before Miami finally managed to make a mini rally in the 8th. Unfortunately it fell far short to have any meaning in the final crushing put upon us by the Yellow Jackets. Tech’s other name of Ramblin Wreck better describes the Canes in their lopsided loss tonight 14-3. This has been a wreck of a season both from a pitching and hitting standpoint.
When it comes to hitting, we can’t hit against LH pitching. Tonight was no exception batting only .194. Knowing that a LH was starting for Tech, Gino threw one additional RH hitter into the lineup to try to balance our lopsided LH batters. Tonight Gino decided to go with 4 RH to try to put some hits on the board. Raymond Gil and and Yoyo plus Carlos Perez batting 8th and Tony Jenkins 9th. Jenkins replacing Lala and Perez behind the plate with DC in right replacing Gabe. Alex McFarlane who struggled last week only making it through 4.2 innings but pitching well got the call to start off the series.
Miami struck in the first coming with 2 outs. Three straight singles by the Brothers and Gil gave the early lead which they held until the third. From that point on it was ALL Tech. Miami would not see another score until Tech had already put up on the board 13 unanswered runs.
The 3rd started with a HP and 12 batters followed before innings end. Five runs before the first out was even recorded. Total of 7 hits, six of which were credited against Alex. Alejandro Rosario, once our Friday starter, who Alex had replaced wasn’t able to stop the bleeding and continue to show why he was no longer our Friday starter. Started with a WP and went downhill from there back to back walks which brought in a run and than what would have a bases clearing double only scoring two due to wrong call by the 3rd base ump (foul) reversed on appeal.
Score at 8-1, Rosario returned in the 4th and open the inning with a Justyn-Henry Malloy HR his first of two for the night. That was the only run given up for the inning but he continued with control issues walking two more to load the bases. Gino trying to conserve the BP kept Rosario in through the 6th but before retiring gave up another run on two more hits in the 6th.
Ben Wanger, making his first appearance since 7 March due to bone chips in his throwing arm and being delayed rejoining the team because of Mono got his opportunity which only lasted one inning ending it with a 3 run Homer; the second by Malloy.
While Tech was putting on the hurt with this hitting display, the Miami bats were all so quiet until the 8th inning when this restless Giant finally stirred and showed a bit of life. Yoyo started with a leadoff walk followed by DC being hit. Big Brother would load the bases with a walk. No outs and Raymond stepping to the plate. Raymond unfortunately records his 33rd strikeout of the year. Next is Alex Toral who just got out of his slump last game after going 0-17 now 1-22 with an 0-3 night going into his bat in the 8th. Takes the count to full before delivering a loop single to right scoring one followed up with CJ Kayfus, PH for Pitelli, adds an RBI to his credit with a 5 pitch walk. Gabe would PH for Perez with BL and took a 3rd strike looking. Jenkins ended the mini excitement with a hard grounder to third who tagged the base for the final out and the finish what little Miami had to show for itself for the night.
Add insult to injury, Tech would once again load the bases under the pitching of Nicholas Regalado who might have left with a pitching injury after giving up a SF to right for Tech’s 14th run.
Offensively, this was a night that the bats once again stayed in the dugout being unable to put up a reasonable display of hits or runs. As earlier mentioned most of their hits came with two out. All of the 7 hits were singles with the first inning showing any indication of back to back hitting. Two player with multiple numbers tonight. Big Brother 2-2 with 2 walks and Tony Jenkins 2-4.
Starting pitching continues to frustrate Gino in not being able to find someone to get beyond the 5th. McFarlane lasted 2.1 giving up 7 runs on 8 hits without a strikeout. Rosario wasn’t any better throwing 82 pitches for 3.2 innings. Only stayed that long as I mentioned earlier to conserve the BP. Where Gino goes from here is the million dollar question. As I stated in the opening Gino was quoted as saying ” It all starts on the mound” and it appears we have not yet resolved this predicament. Tomorrow we will see if Jake Smith has an answer for us.
Defensively, sloppy at times and plays that should have been made weren’t. I accounted for three but in the overall picture would not have change the outcome of the game. Tech outplayed us in every category.
Tomorrow it starts with Jake and hopefully he can provide the incentive to wake our Sleeping Giants. First pitch 7PM.
