VIRGINIA TECH: GAME 1

In a game with so many twists and turns with many heart-throbbing moments, the Cardiac Canes come out on top 8-6. In a game that was dominated by the long ball, controversial calls, numerous lead changes, and two ejections the Canes showed their true grit and worked their way through in the 9th persevering through all the drama to take game one which might be the spark needed to take them to post-season.

The line-up with a change at the bottom of the order with Jake Kulikowski DH batting 8th.  Carlos Perez will probably be a permanent fixture at 1st for the remainder of the season with sources telling me that Jason Torres joins Blake Cyr with a season-ending torn ligament in his arm.

Miami got off to an amazing start with 4 batters up and 4 runs on the board. Jacoby Long and Edgardo Villegas with back-to-back singles followed by back-to-back HRs by Daniel Cuvet,18th, trialing behind Pat Burrell with 23 for the all-time high as a college freshman, and Dorian Gonzalez with his 7th of the season. 

Gage Ziehl who has been the team lifesaver over the past several weeks was not his usual sharpness not making it to the 6th inning after giving up 5 runs on 7 hits through 5. Hokies started dwindling at the lead in the third with a one-out double scoring the previous batter who was hit by pitch. This would be the start of 4 straight innings with runs put up on the board by the Hokies. In the 4th, the initial 4-run cushion vanished to tie the score with a pair of HRs. 

Miami, after posting 4 in the first had the opportunity to put the crush on the game in the third. Runners on 2nd and 3rd one out left stranded with Scanlon striking out and Costello fouling out to first. What could have been, Miami was once again looking like the team they have been all season: inability to move the line.

Miami returned to what they do best and the only way they know how to put runs on the board. Dorian with 2 outs takes a 1-1 and goes airborne to left-center for his 2nd HR of the day (421′) breaking the tie and for a moment in time giving the Canes back the lead 5-4.

As stated earlier, Gage not at his usual best gave up lead-off back-to-back singles following it up with a WP putting runners on 2nd and third. SF to right ties the score at 5 and we are right back at the beginning. Gage would finish the inning but at 105 pitches it would end his day, for Myles Caba.

The 6th would be the first ejection of the game. Both teams were having issues all day with the home plate umpire with his calls. With the final strike-out call ending the 6th, it was more than enough for JD to stomach giving rise to choice words that got him ejected  

The 6th also brought a change of leads with Myles being greeted starting off his reign on the mound with a lead-off HR by Gehrig Ebel, his second of the game. The HR was followed by a single and shadows started descending on any hope for the Canes. As bleak as it looked, it quickly shifted with a strikeout-throwout shifting the momentum back to the Canes.

The 7th like the third was Miami’s opportunity to not only get back the lead but to put a major hurt on the Hokies. Jacoby led off the inning with a bunt single followed by a pair of walks to Edgardo and Daniel loading the bases with nobody out. Opportunity lost with Dorian with 2 HRs today hits into a 4-6-3 DP. One run does score but again when it comes to moving the line, the Canes are just unable to do so. The one run scored ties the game once again. Myles was motivated at the end of the 6th with the strikeout/throwout DP was energized striking out two of the three (looking) in the Hokies’ 7th. Hokies manager held his tongue after JD’s ejection but was clearly upset with the calls behind the plate.

The turning point in the game came in the 8th which would have marked certain death for the Canes. The Hokies loaded the bases with one out on a double, an intentional walk, and a single with the runner held at third. Runner at third had a late start from second not certain on the single to right. The decisive play of the game followed. The Hokies set up a suicide squeeze which failed when the batter did not make contact compounded with Scanlon not holding onto the ball. Jack managed to retrieve the ball tagging the runner in a close call at the plate. 

JD Urso led off the 9th and following his third strikeout of the game also had a few choice words with the home plate umpire and he joined JD in the locker room with his ejection. Both sides were frustrated by the calls behind home plate but Jacoby with a full count took the decision away from any possible 3rd strike call and delivered the 4th HR of the day (431′) giving the Cardiac Canes 1 up on the Hokies. Two batters later Daniel delivers #2 for the day and his 19th of the year (417′) over the scoreboard in center providing insurance.

Miami fans holding their breath on whether they would hold or fold. If JD was still managing, based on how he conducted business all season, he would have probably had a change of pitchers. Instead, Laz Gutierrez, acting manager, stayed with Myles and Myles only needed 11 pitches and three FOs to the outfield to capture a critical game one of the series. With Pitt beating the Noles today, this is looking more and more to the showdown next week when we meet to decide who stays and who goes home. ND and Boston are playing a non-conference series this weekend.

Offensively, It was the HR ball that saved us from not ending up in the lost column. Seven of our eight runs scored were via the long ball. When it comes to situational baseball we just don’t make the grade. 1-6 with RISP striking out 14 times. Twice we had the opportunity to blow this game wide open with less than two outs but one failure after another. The old storyline: we live or die by the long ball. Today, with 5 on the board was enough to take us to victory lane. Dorian Gonzalez and Daniel Cuvet each with a pair and Jacoby with one. We had three players with multiple numbers: Jacoby Long 3-5(HR,RBI), Daniel Cuvet 2-4(2HRs,4RBIs), and Dorian Gonzalez 3-4(2HRs,2RBIs). Carlos Perez had the lone double of the game for the Canes.

Pitching, it was not the Bulldog today but Myles Caba that took us to victory lane. Myle gave us 4 solid innings with a career-high 6 strikeouts giving up that lone HR in the 6th when he first came into the game. He tightened his belt and gave a very commendable performance saving having to go to a questionable BP. I commend Laz for sticking with Myles in the 9th which JD would not have. It will be up to Rafe and Herick to carry the exchange of batons to ensure at least a series win and hopefully a sweep.

The first pitch for Saturday’s game will be at 7 PM.