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Saturday - April 21, 2007

Game 43: Texas at Nebraska

Hey, gang. Sorry I didn't get this posted last night. I got home, found that Nebraska was streaming audio and video for free and got all excited. Then I started having computer problems. My system kept overheating and it was just one problem after another. It didn't help things that the Horns ran into a pitcher that kept mowing them down. It didn't help at all that they lost to Nebraska 0-7. Tony Watson threw a 2-hit shutout for the Huskers. Nope. No help at all. So, after struggling with the computer all evening, I was too tired to write about the pitifulness (is that even a word?...I dunno but it does seem fitting) of the game. Sorry. But, you can read about it now. Unlucky you!

By the way, before I forget to mention it, everyone associated with the team who was in Lincoln was sporting Virginia Tech caps. The players, the coaches, the trainers, the media relations folks. Everyone. I thought it was a neat thing for the Horns to do. I'll try to post some screen captures, if I can get my computer to cooperate. And, there's one photo of some of the players on the TexasSports.com game report page. You can clearly see the Nike check so I guess that's where they got so many hats so quickly.

UPDATE. And, just like that, the photo of the Horns wearing those Virginia Tech caps is gone from the TexasSports.com site. How very very odd. Why replace a very nice photo taken at the game in question with something from the archives? I didn't keep a copy, either, so if you missed it, I'm sorry. It appears that you're outta luck.

And, so...

I missed the beginning of the game and tuned in during the bottom of the 2nd. Texas was down 0-1 (Wehrle had singled and then scored when the next two batters singled behind him) and I tuned in just in time to hear Mitch Abeita hit his first home run of the year to make it a 2-run deficit for the Horns. The Horns went down in order for the first 3 innings. Craig Way and Keith Moreland did their best to help the team out by talking about Tony Watson's perfect game to that point as the 4th started. And, it worked. Jordan Danks reached base on a fielding error. Perfect game over. He moved to 2b on a single by Chance Wheeless. An actual hit! No-hitter over. Bradley Suttle then hit a fly ball to rf. Jordan decided to tag up and test the arm of the right fielder (Belfonte). Alas, Belfonte appears to have a good/strong/accurate arm and threw Jordan out pretty handily. Double play. As if Watson really needed the help. I did get to see the video of that play. Sigh.

James Russell started for the Horns. He got out of that bases loaded situation in the 1st while just giving up 1 run. In the 2nd, he gave up the solo shot but that was it. As I was driving home, Keith commented that James' mechanics seemed a bit off...that he kept leaving the ball up. Things seemed a bit better in the 2nd and he threw a 3-up/3-down third. But, in the 4th, things went south. Gerch singled. After getting the next two batters to pop out and strike out, Belfonte singled. Then, Wehrle got his 3rd hit (in as many chances) of the game. Sadly, it was a 3-run home run. Horns down 0-5.

In the 5th, Nick Peoples was hit by a pitch and advanced to 2b on a sac bunt by Josh Prince (dh) but was stranded at 2b. In the bottom of the inning, Nebraska also stranded a runner at 2b.

In the 6th, the Horns went down in order for the 4th time in the game. Ouch. With no outs in the bottom of the 6th and Nimmo at 2b, Abeita bunted down the 3b line. The runner from 2b was safe at 3b and the batter was ruled safe on an E4. Augie vehemently argued that the runner was out but the ruling was that Travis was not on the bag when he took the throw. Augie was ejected. And, Austin Wood took the mound. Belfonte then popped out to 1b on a bunt attempt. Wehrle (sigh) singled (his 4th hit in as many chances) to score Nimmo and move Abeita to 2b. Brown flew out to cf. Abeita tagged and moved to 3b. Opitz then grounded into a fielder's choice (6-4) to end the inning. Ugh.

Through 6 innings, Watson had thrown only 61 pitches and given up just one hit. Alas, in the 7th, he mowed the Horns down in order one more time. And, Gerch hit a solo shot for the Huskers. Three home runs on the day for Nebraska.

Guess what the Horns did in the 8th? Yep...down in order. For the 6th time in the game. Amazing. Kyle Walker went to the mound for the Horns in the bottom of the 8th. He walked Abeita. Abeita moved to 2b on a ground out (5-3) by Belfonte. And, Wehrle finally failed to hit for the first time in the game as he flew out to lf. Brown walked. Runners at 1b and 2b. Opitz struck out, though, to end our misery.

In the top of the 9th, Jordan singled but was stranded at 1b. Alas.

You have to admire the game thrown by Watson. Wow. Complete game. Two hits. Six strikeouts. No walks. One hit batter. All that on 96 pitches. Keith was marveling at one point late in the game that the vast majority of the outs were unassisted. The Horns were either striking out or hitting fly balls right to people. Here's hoping things turn around today. Hook 'em!

UPDATE. Some screen captures from the streaming feed provided by Nebraska:

James Russell checks out the runner at 2b

Props to James at the end of the 5th

Kyle Russell at the plate in the 6th

Augie Garrido smiling after he gave a short
answer to a question and the network guy
said he liked "short and sweet" -- I don't
imagine he smiled a lot last night

See what I mean about smiling? He was
thrown out about 2 seconds after this

Austin Wood on the mound in the 6th

Michael Demperio trots off the field
at the end of the 6th

Chance Wheeless communing with his bat
in the 7th - alas, to no avail

Bradley Suttle at the plate in the 7th

Tommy Harmon coaching 3rd base -
pointlessly, it would seem

Preston Clark at the plate in the 7th

Nick Peoples at the plate in the 8th

Josh Prince at the plate in the 8th

Kyle Walker warms up in the 8th
as Bradley Suttle watches

And...that's all I got. 'Lucky I got that much with all my computer woes last night. I'm not sure I'll try to get anything today. I was completely unable to enjoy the game as I messed with the computer. Of course, there really wasn't much of anything to enjoy. But you get my drift.

Posted by Joanna at 8:41 AM