VIRGINIA TECH: GAME 2

Miami with their 16th comeback victory with a breakout 5th inning wins 7-5. Another heart stopper as the Canes come back from a 4-run deficit rallying with 5 runs in the 5th and able to hold off a determined Hokie team in the 8th for the win. Another difficult start for Rafe Schlesinger who was unable to keep runners off the bases with a lack of control and seemingly serving up juicy pitches to hit. Through the first 4 innings, The Hokies found themselves in scoring position with their first two batters reaching base safely. Rafe placed himself consistently behind the 8 ball, the Hokies capitalized in each of the innings with runs on the board. Under normal conditions, Rafe probably should have been taken out, but our BP cannot handle that amount of relief work. In the 4th, Rafe started settling down and completed 6 innings with 104 pitches striking out only 2 and relinquishing 4 runs in the first three innings. Nick Robert came in relief and should have come out in the 9th after coming close to losing the 3-run lead the Cardiac Canes accomplished in the 6th. He escaped in the 9th with a 6-3 DP to finalize the victory and series win.

Miami with Urso being ejected from yesterday’s game sat out and Antonio Jimenez got the call at short batting 9th. JD playing matchup decided to sit Edgardo out and bring in Gaby Gutierrez to play left. Lorenzo Carrier got DH duty batting 5th. In the absence of Edgardo, Daniel was moved up to bat 2nd. For those tracking injuries add another name: Brian Walters out with a sore arm. No word on the return date.

Miami turned to Daniel Cuvet in the first inning to get us on the scoreboard on the 2nd pitch sending it to the CF wall 440′ for HR #20. This brought concern in that for his next 3 at bats he was intentionally walked rather than face off against him. 

The 1-0 lead was short-lived as Rafe looked like he was slinging the ball and not zeroing into the strike zone. The leadoff batter singled followed by a double and just like that two runners were in scoring position which the Hokies collected on with two ground out scoring both runners and taking the lead which they would hold until the 6th. Tech would go on with 4 answered runs before the Miami bats finally awoke to manage to stop the unanswered response. 

Like the first inning, the first two batters reached base with a single and a hit batter which the Hokies worked into their third run. Another run in the third with a leadoff double and single equating to their 4th run. Tech was on track for doing the same in the 4th with an opening walk, single, and WP putting runners on 2nd and 3rd no-outs. Rafe extended the hold he dug himself for the 4th consecutive inning with a walk to load the bases with one out. An unusual DP 3-2 saved the day for the Canes and Rafe. Ball was hit to Carlos at first who threw home for the force out and Jack in turn tagged the batter who thought it was a foul ball off the plate. Just another issue both teams had with officiating at home plate this weekend.

Miami, after Daniel’s HR in the first, had another opportunity for a run in the second but poor decision on base running not only cost us a run but could have very likely been the mistake that cost us the game. Lorenzo opened the inning with a double to left. A WP, Carrier rather than advancing one base decides to stretch it one more base and gets thrown out at home 2-3 on a decision that was so wrong. Rather than have a runner on third with no outs, the pads are clean with one out. Lorenzo would have scored on Costello’s FO to left but instead was the 3rd out of the inning. 

Miami did stop the bleed on runs in the 4th with two outs on the board. Scanlon singled advancing on a WP, with Costello following with an RBI single. End of 4, score 4-2.

The 6th, was the back-breaker for the Hokies and a heartbreaker for the Canes. Eleven batters to the plate, 5 runs on 4 hits but lucky for the Hokies 3 left stranded. Miami started the inning with Jack’s 7th homer of the year. After recording an out, the next 7 batters reached base safely on 3 hits and 4 walks leaving BL twice. 5 runs already across the board with Jack coming to the plate the second time, this time with BL one out. Not only Jack but Lucas both strike out looking stranding 3 runners. This inning should have sealed it but instead left the door open for the Hokies trailing by 3.

The Hokies went right back to work to make up the 3-run deficit. The Canes saved one run in the 7th with one of Jacoby’s patented catches slamming into the CF wall saving what would have been a run scoring from first. The following inning, Nick Robert who replaced Rafe in the 7th was showing wear and tear with a lack of control. He faced 6 batters giving up a pair of walks, a double, and a WP but managed to hold in there with the Hokies coming away with only one run. For a “closer” he just doesn’t close. 

Why JD let him pitch the 9th is a mystery. He showed signs of being tired in the 8th, but JD persevered in keeping him in. After walking two consecutive batters and throwing a WP, the Hokies had runners on the corners one out, and still no move from JD. Clay Grady with a pair of singles and a pair of walks for the day is down to mano a mano. Nick brings the count to 2-2 and Nick has the Baseball Gods looking over him as Clay drives the ball to the left of Jimenez who steps on the bag and throws to first to complete the DP and secure the win. A heart-stopping finish but a finish it was. Canes walk away with a 7-5 series win.

Home run production was down from yesterday with two (Daniel Cuvet, Jack Scanlon) accounting for two of the seven runs. Three with doubles: Jacoby Long, Lorenzo Carrier and Edgardo Villegas. Only one player with multiple hits: Jack Scanlon 2-5(HR,RBI). Strikeouts took its toll with 11. With Runners in scoring position 3-8 where the Hokies were 1-11. That was the big differential in their not scoring.

Pitching was not at its best and JD kept starter and reliever past their times. Rafe struggling with the first two batters getting on in the first four innings was evident that he just did not have his stuff but working with a limited BP you overextend with what you have. If not for the 5th it would have been showdown Sunday. Our BP has not been used compared to what the Hokies have had to resort to. With Herick having his problems not staying out of trouble, the BP will definitely be worked tomorrow trying for the sweep. Not having Walters to turn to, is one less arm in the BP to work with.

Pitt and FSU have a DP tomorrow so all eyes will be glued on whether the Noles will be able to help us out. More importantly, is getting the sweep to help ourselves. The first pitch is 1PM