VIRGINIA TECH: GAME 3

Miami in a back-and-forth game before being blown out in the 6th as the Hokies put a 6 spot on the board to take game 3, 13-4. JD reluctantly held back the BP all weekend, let them loose today and as expected floundered along with starter Herick Hernandez giving up 13 runs on 15 hits as Miami escaped the 10 rule but got crucified anyway. Multiple errors, recorded and not, added to the Canes’ misery. JD had to go to the BP 5 times and only Chris Diaz was able to complete one full inning. The Miami bats just ran out of steam after the 4th after putting up 3 runs in the first 4 innings to come within a run of the Hokies before the Hokies started applying the gas in the 5th and went turbocharge in the 6th where a leadoff HR started a chain reaction of errors(2 E1-scored as hits), hits and runs brought 10 batters to the plate and coming away with 6 runs. Miami had no response only able to come up with one run in the 7th as the Hokies salvaged one game of the series.

Herick Hernandez struggling for most of the season managed to get the first two outs to start the game and on a 3-2 count to Carson Martini before serving up his 13th HR of the season giving the Hokies a 2-0 lead. Miami answers in the 2nd with back-to-back walks to Perez and Scanlon and an RBI single by Costello to right. Miami would tie the score at two in the 3rd with a pair of singles by Long and Cuvet and Dorian with a SF to center. The tie would be broken in the Hokies third with an RBI double. Miami trailing by one in the 4th tied the game for the 2nd time with a Jacoby SF to right with BL scoring Carrier who opened the 4th with a single. With runners on the corners, Edardgo struck out. Hokies broke the tie in their half of the 4th taking advantage of Herick misplaying a routine dribble back to him getting under his glove (ruled a hit by a generous scorekeeper) setting the wheels in motion for a walk and RBI single. End of 4, Tech led 4-3 and that is where the game ended for the Canes.

In the 5th, a 2-out error by Carlos dropping a pop-up behind first base scored the runner from 3rd  and enabled a second run two batters later with an RBI single. The 5th would also mark the end of starter Herick Hernandez after the E3 and hitting the next batter. Ben Chestnutt was in relief and the first batter came away with an RBI single. The 5th extended the score to 6-3 and it was only getting started.

In the 6th, Chestnutt got roasted giving up his 5th round-tripper to the lead-off batter and after walking the next batter his day would draw to a close. Ashton Crowther, our Wednesday starter, was brought in but after his 2 errors (recorded as hits) and 4 runs, enough was seen by JD to bring in Chris Diaz who delivered a two-run double finally ending the onslaught with a strikeout. The Hokies came away from the 6th leading 12-3.

Miami responded in the 7th but with only one run with a lead-off double by Jacoby. Edgardo gets hit, and Daniel singles in Jacoby from second. Just when you think just maybe, Dorian hits into a 4-6-3 DP for Miami’s last effort to put a dent into the Hokies lead.

Chris Scinta relieved Diaz in the 8th after Chris got the Hokies out in order for the second time in the game. Scinta’s tenure on the mound was short-lived after loading the bases (W,1b,HP) and JD goes to the BP one last time bringing in Brandon Olivera who adds to the damage with a WP for the Hokies’ 13th run and loads the bases before recording the final two outs 6-2, and 7. 

Miami ended the game fittingly striking out twice for their final two outs. Miami wins the series but is crushed in their dream of getting that all-important sweep.

It was not an offensive performance even though we had 10 hits but only 4 runs to show. Unlike the two previous games no HRs to show. with just two doubles (Jacoby Long,Jake Kulikowski) for their 10 hits. Three with multiple hits: Jacoby Long 2-4(double,RBI), Daniel Cuvet 2-4; and Lucas Costello 3-3(RBI).

Pitching is another reason why this team is going nowhere this season. If we are lucky enough to make the Tournament we will have to win it all and that has the slimmest of possibilities of happening with one starter and little in the way of a BP.

Going into the final week with a Tuesday game at FIU starting at 630 and ending with a 3-game series with Pitt. Pitt completed their three-game series with the Noles winning the 1st two games before getting blown out themselves 15-4 (Mercy Rule). Miami is in the driver’s seat but we are talking about the Canes where anything can happen with so much on the line. Be there, feel it, and cheer our Cardiac Canes on; hopefully, they will reward us all with a Tournament bid.