Mike Kaffee
Hurricanes Baseball Reporter
[email protected]
The Fall Classic continued today with Team Orange bouncing back to even the series today with the deciding game tomorrow at 11AM. It was irrelevant on which format you followed whether it was actual run differential or the inning won, Orange was the clear winner. Depending on how you looked at today’s faceoff the final score was either 8-5(runs) or 3-2 (innings won). On the latter scoring, it got down to the final out to determine today’s winner.
If you missed my email yesterday, I clarified the new format they were using in this year’s WS. The new format: Scoring is based on who won the inning rather than the number of actual runs scored. At the end of the series, if the number of innings that are won is equal, the tiebreaker will be the total runs scored. Last year was a blowout, and management felt this would be more competitive and closer overall. Personally, I prefer the old-fashioned way. Either way, the series is still tied at one.
Opening pitchers were Chris Scinta for Team Green and Ben Chestnutt for Team Orange. Both are competing for starting pitchers in the weekend rotation. The last outing for both was not at all impressive and today Chris Scinto definitely did not improve up on his performance and has not done anything worthy this preseason to warrant a starting slot. Ben was overall better but not nearly in the same league as we saw of Nick Robert yesterday. If one or both get the starting call, I don’t see them lasting long against a formidable opponent.
Green had the opportunity to score first and take the first inning but bad or no coaching at third or just plain greediness by Dorian Gonzalez to score from third cost a run and inning one went for a wash. Dorian with one out singled followed by Lorenzo Carrier doubling to deep right center. Either Dorian decided on his own to stretch it or the 3rd base coach was sleeping, Dorian attempted to try for home for the first run and Green was awarded one point for the inning. It was never in the cards. He wasn’t even halfway home and the catcher was waiting for him holding the ball. Rather than having men on 2nd and 3rd with one out, instead man on second with 2 outs. The next batter Renzo Gonzalez flies out to right which would have been a SF rather than the 3rd out. The inning ended as a wash with no points awarded.
First blood was drawn in the top of the second. Chris on the mound. Daniel Cunet opened the inning with a leadoff single. A failed pickoff at 1st (E1) Daniel advanced to second and probably could have made it to 3rd, but not sure about the rules regarding taking the extra base. Cunet advanced to 3rd on a 4-3 groundout, having Edgardo Villegas singling to bring Daniel in and earn the coveted first point for Team Orange.
They added a second point the following inning, pounding away on Scinta’s pitching. No velocity on his ball and Team Orange took batting practice on him. AJ Goytia opened the inning with a single. A minor reprieve with Blake Cyr striking out and then a total collapse with the next four batters getting on base scoring 4 runs, leaving a man on second with just one out. He did not look good at all and probably would have ended his day. Pitching this year needs to take a different approach in keeping all our pitchers on a short leash. Orange took a 2-0 lead or an actual score of 5-0.
Green managed to bounce back with a point and with a run the following inning With Lorenzo opening with a single followed by a Renzo double putting men on 2nd and 3rd. Cyr’s indecision to go home and settle for a 6-3 ground out gave Green the run and 1 point to bring it to 2-1 or if still keeping score 5-1.
Mid-game change of pitchers had Julian Hernandez for Team Orange and Brandon Olivera for Team Green. The next scoring came in the 6th for Green picking up a point and tying the game at 2 apiece. Luca Reyes one out single started the wheels in motion. Antonio Jimenez two batters later doubled putting runners on 2nd and 3rd. Eric Fernandez singled bringing in two runs putting them within two runs of Orange. Orange made it interesting in the top of the inning getting BL with a trio of walks but unable to capitalize.
The 7th was the final outburst by both teams with Orange outslugging Green to earn the point and extending their score to 8-3. One out back-to-back- singles by Cyr and Torres put the wheels in motion. Following a Jake Kulikowski FO to right, Cunet single to right scoring two and advancing to second on the throw home. Following Cunet’s double, Gaby continued the outpouring of hits with an RBI single of his own which is where the inning stopped.
Green battled back in the bottom half of the inning coming out one run short giving Orange the point and the lead once again 3-2. Errors, WPs plagued Orange but held off with a pair of strikeouts at the end stranding runners on 2nd and 3rd.
Green had the opportunity to tie it in the eighth with BL from a pair of singles and a walk. The outcome rested on the bat of Renzo Gonzalez and he made it interesting with a long FO to left to end the game at 3-2 or for us traditionalists 8-5.
Wind played a significant factor in keeping the ball within the ballpark. Still had 20 hits pounded out across the board (10 apiece).Leading in the hitting Robert Cuvet 3-4(double,2RBIs); Gaby Gutierrez 2-4(double,RBI); Lorenzo Carrier 3-3(double);Eric Fernandez 2-4(2RBIs). Additionally, with extra-base hits, both doubles: Renzo Gonzalez and Antonio Jimenez.
Still very leery as to our pitching. None of the 4 today were that impressive and with Chestnutt and Scinta looking at a starting role come this spring, they have a lot of work ahead of them which I am doubtful they will be able to do. Have concerns as to our IF with regard to the middle. Blake is stellar with a bat but his fielding is the issue. Dorian is better in the field and his bat has definitely improved this season, making it difficult to keep him out of the lineup. Both are in the competition for second base and they have been using Blake at short which is a no-no. Much prefer Jimenez or even Dorian. Third is locked with Daniel Cuvet and at 1st either Jason Torres or Renzo Gonzalez. I really like Renzo but I can’t take anything away from Jason. Jason does play third but Daniel probably owns the position for now. The outfield, forget about. That is an impossibility to choose from. The only exception is center which I give my choice to Jacoby Long for his speed and hitting. Too many to select from. Gaby, Lorenzo, Edgardo, Lucas Costello,Luca Reyes, Jake Kulikowski. A tough field to select from. I have a feeling JD will start out with the experience but I can’t short him if he goes otherwise.
Tomorrow, is the final game to determine the World Champions. First pitch 11AM
