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Sunday - April 17, 2011

Game 35: Texas Tech at Texas

Here's the line from yesterday's game:

So, yeah...that happened. It was not pretty. It seemed like just about every ball Tech batters connected with managed to bloop over an infielder and fall in front of an outfielder. Every ball Texas hit, by contrast, seemed to be a pop-up or be hit directly to a Tech fielder. It was agonizing. Texas didn't actually get a hit until the 5th inning, when Mark Payton and Jonathan Walsh led things off with back-to-back singles. Alas, Alex Silver popped out to 2b and Jordan Etier (on a 10-pitch at-bat) grounded into a 6-4-3 double play. Erich Weiss finally got the 3rd (and final) hit of the game for Texas when he led the 9th off with a single lined over the shortstop into lf. After yet another ball lined to an outfielder, the Horns loaded the bases on back-to-back walks. Weiss then scored on a ground out to ss. Another walk re-loaded the bases but the game ended on yet another ground out to ss by Brandon Loy...who started the game by grounding out to ss. Despite his struggles at the plate, Loy put on a fielding clinic and made some amazing plays at shortstop. Too bad it was in a losing effort.

I just kept thinking the tide would turn. The Horns only struck out twice yesterday. They kept hitting the ball. But, like I said, right at people. Agony.

Cole Green started and was saddled with his 3rd loss of the year, despite giving up only 2 runs. Those runs came in the 2nd as the Horns gave up 4 singles: the first one was a ground ball up the middle; the second went right at the ss...but it was a hit and run and Loy had moved to 2b to cover a possible throw from the catcher so he was no longer in that spot so did not field the ball (and the throw in from lf was off-line, allowing the batter to end up at 2b); the third was a bloop single over the shortstop...just barely out of Loy's reach; and the fourth was a bunt single pushed between the mound and 1b between the pitcher, the first baseman, and the second baseman. It was the Saturday Blahs all over again. Poor Cole Green. He did not throw a bad game. He struck out 5 but did give up 7 hits. Kendal Carrillo, Hoby Milner, and Corey Knebel were nearly perfect in relief...allowing only one baserunner (a walk given up by Milner)...as they closed out the final four innings of the game.

Sigh...

Here's hoping the Horns win the series today. I imagine they will. I sure don't want a repeat of the OSU series. Hook 'em, Horns!

Posted by Joanna at 9:27 AM