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Sunday - June 12, 2011

Game 65: Texas at Arizona State (Austin Super Regional)

Texas bounced back in a big way to beat Arizona State 5-1 in the 2nd game of the Austin Super Regional. The line...

Note how the Horns scored 5 runs on 8 hits in Game 2 of the Super Regional verses 1 run on 8 hits in Game 1. How does that happen? Gotta love baseball. Right????

It was a hot (98 °F at the start of the game) but gorgeous day at Disch-Falk Field.

It did drop down to 91 by the end of the game. And, we had a bit of a breeze most of the day. But, with the stands packed, there's not much relief to be had. Not that I'm complaining. Nosireebob. I'd much rather be out in that than at home watching someone else play on TV! And, so...

The lineups:

Texas		Arizona State
Tant Shepherd (1b) Mark Payton (rf) Brandon Loy (ss) Erich Weiss (3b) Jonathan Walsh (lf) Kevin Lusson (dh) Paul Montalbano (cf) Jacob Felts (c) Jordan Etier (2b)		Johnny Ruettiger (lf) Deven Marrero (ss) Riccio Torrez (3b) Joey DeMichele (dh) Zach Wilson (1b) Matt Newman (rf) Xorge Carrillo (c) Zack MacPhee (2b) Andrew Aplin (cf)

Yep...Texas played visitor. Cole Green started for Texas and, with a bit of help from his bullpen, moved his record to 8-3. And, Corey Knebel earned his 18th save of the year...1 shy of the Texas single-season record. The Horns need to move on to the CWS so they can improve those numbers, don't you think?

The story of the game, though, was Jordan Etier. He struggled in Game 1. But, he found something in himself overnight and turned things around in a big way for Game 2. He went 3-for-4 with 2 singles and a 3-run homerun (!) to pace the offense. And, he was smooth as can be on defense all day (he even had an unassisted double play). It's a good story. I'm happy for him.

And, so...the play by play:

• 1st inning, Texas
• Kramer Champlin (xx) on the mound for Arizona State.
• Shepherd struck out swinging.
• Payton grounded out to the pitcher. Soft come-backer right to the pitcher.
• Loy popped out to 1b...foul, about 10 feet from the bag.
• 1st inning, Arizona State
• Cole Green on the mound for Texas.
• Ruettiger reached on an infield single (high bouncer) to 1b. It was a close play at 1b. Green was a little slow getting to the bag to cover and the runner dove for the bag. Weird play.
• With Marrero at the plate, Ruettiger stole 2b. The ball got away from Felts a bit but the runner had a good jump on the pitch. No throw to 2b.
• Marrero struck out swinging.
• Torrez grounded out to 3b. Ruettiger waited for Weiss to throw the ball and then moved up to 3b.
• DeMichele grounded out to ss.
• 11 pitches (8 for strikes).
• 2nd inning, Texas
• Weiss flew out to cf.
• Walsh popped out to shallow lf.
• Lusson grounded out to 1b (unassisted).
• 2nd inning, Arizona State
• Wilson grounded out to ss.
• Newman grounded out to 2b.
• Carrillo reached on an infield single to ss. It was a slow bouncer and Loy tried to barehand and throw in one motion (his only chance at the out) but he missed the ball.
• MacPhee lined a single into rf, moving Carrillo to 2b.
• Insert full infield meeting on the mound with Coach Johnson.
• Aplin drew a 4-pitch walk to load the bases. Yikes.
• Ruettiger grounded into a 5-unassisted fielder's choice. Weiss bobbled the ball but stepped on 3b with plenty of time to spare.
• 23 pitches (10 for strikes)
• 3rd inning, Texas
• Montalbano drew a 4-pitch walk.
• Felts moved Montalbano to 2b on a 1-3 sac bunt down the 1b line.
• Etier reached on a throwing error by ss. High...pulled the first baseman off the bag. Etier dove at the bag and under the tag. ASU argued the call (saying the first baseman tagged the batter) to no avail. Montalbano had no chance to advance.
• Insert visit to the mound.
• Shepherd drew a full-count 6-pitch walk to load the bases.
• Payton hit a sac fly to lf about 15 feet shy of the warning track, scoring Montalbano...and advancing the other two runners. That's unusual for all the runners to advance.
• Loy struck out looking. 3 pitches. Ouch.
• Nice to see Texas respond with a run after almost coming so close to giving up a run in the bottom of the 2nd.
• Texas up 1-0.
• 3rd inning, Arizona State
• Marrero grounded out to 3b.
• Torrez struck out swinging.
• DeMichele grounded out to 2b.
• 9 pitches (6 for strikes).
• Texas up 1-0.
• 4th inning, Texas
• Weiss drew a 4-pitch walk.
• Walsh singled through the right side, moving Weiss to 2b.
• Lusson squared to bunt then pulled the bat back and popped out to 3b (soft liner).
• Montalbano grounded into a 3-6-1 double play. He did that yesterday, too! You just don't see that double play a lot. And, you certainly don't see the same player hit into it two days in a row. How bizarre. It was a close play at 1b and I actually think Montalbano may well have been safe. But...what can you do?
• Texas up 1-0.
• 4th inning, Arizona State
• Wilson struck out swinging.
• Newman also struck out swinging.
• Carrillo grounded out to ss.
• 10 pitches (7 for strikes).
• Texas up 1-0.
• 5th inning, Texas
• Felts struck out looking.
• Etier lined a single into lf!
• Shepherd hit into a 5-4-3 double play. Damn.
• Texas up 1-0.
• 5th inning, Arizona State
• MacPhee singled through the right side.
Aplin moved MacPhee to 2b on a 5-3 sac bunt down the 3b line.
• Ruettiger lined into a 4-unassisted double play. On the hit & run, MacPhee was nearly to 3b when Etier caught the line drive. Etier then jogged to the 2b bag to complete the double play. Nice.
• 8 pitches (5 for strikes).
• Texas up 1-0.
• 6th inning, Texas
• Payton drew a full-count 6-pitch walk.
• Loy moved Payton to 2b on a 1-3 sac bunt down the 1b line.
• Weiss lined a double into left-center, scoring Payton.
• Walsh struck out looking.
• Lusson drew a full-count 6-pitch walk.
• Insert visit to the mound.
• Montalbano grounded out to 1b (unassisted).
• Texas up 2-0.
• 6th inning, Arizona State
• Marrero lined a single into cf.
• Torrez singled through the right side, moving Marrero to 3b.
• Texas sent Hoby Milner (lhp) to the mound, replacing Green. Standing ovation for Green. Thank you, Cole Green!
• DeMichele scored Marrero on a sac fly to cf.
• Torrez moved up to 2b on a wild pitch with Wilson at the plate. The ball didn't get very far away from Felts but he could not find it and Torrez was very quick to take advantage.
• Wilson went on to draw a full-count 6-pitch walk.
• With Newman at the plate, Torrez tried to move up to 3b on another pitch that got away from Felts momentarily. This time, though, Felts picked the ball up quickly and gunned Torrez down at 3b. Sweet! Wilson stayed at 1b.
• Newman grounded out to 2b.
• So glad the Horns scored that run in the top of the inning.
• Final numbers for Green: 5+ innings, 21 batters, 1 run (earned), 6 hits (all singles), 4 strikeouts, 1 walk, 68 pitches (40 for strikes).
• 11 pitches (6 for strikes) for Milner.
• Texas up 2-1.
• 7th inning, Texas
• Felts popped out to 2b.
• Etier singled up the middle off the mound.
• With Shepherd at the plate, Etier was almost caught stealing. He took off for 2b, saw the catcher throw to 2b, and headed back to 1b. Luckily, the second baseman dropped the throw from the catcher. Whew.
• Shepherd lined a single into cf, moving Etier to 2b.
• Arizona State sent Trevor Williams (rhp) to the mound, replacing Champlin.
• Payton flew out to cf. Etier tied to tag up and advance to 3b but he was thrown out at 3b (8-5) for a double play. Ouch. It was a close play at 3b but still...ouch.
• Texas up 2-1.
• 7th inning, Arizona State
• Carrillo singled up the middle.
• MacPhee moved Carrillo to 2b on a 1-3 sac bunt.
• Arizona State sent Michael Benjamin in to pinch run for Carrillo at 2b.
• Texas sent Kendal Carrillo (rhp) to the mound, replacing Milner.
• Andy Workman (pinch-hitting for Aplin) struck out swinging.
• Texas sent Andrew McKirahan (lhp) to the mound, replacing Carrillo.
• Ruettiger reached on an infield single to 2b, moving Benjamin to 3b. The throw from 2b was just barely late. Benjamin tried to score on the throw to 1b but Shepherd gunned the throw home. Felts fielded and held onto the ball as Benjamin bowled him over. Benjamin out on the play!!! (It took a while for both guys to get up off the turf after the collision. Wow.) Tommy Harmon was out quickly to give huge props to Felts after the play (after he made sure he was okay, first). Heh.
• Final numbers for Milner: 1.1 innings, 5 batters, no runs, 1 hit (single), 1 walk, 1 wild pitch, 15 pitches (9 for strikes).
• Final numbers for Carrillo: 0.1 innings, 1 batter, no runs, no hits, 1 strikeout, 5 pitches (4 for strikes).
• Texas up 2-1.
• 8th inning, Texas
• Austin Barnes went in behind the plate for ASU. Workman stayed in at cf.
• Loy grounded out to the pitcher (bunt attempt).
• Weiss grounded out to 2b.
• Walsh also grounded out to 2b.
• Texas up 2-1.
• 8th inning, Arizona State
• Texas sent Tim Maitland into cf, replacing Walsh. And, they sent Corey Knebel (rhp) to the mound, replacing McKirahan.
• Final numbers for McKirahan: 0.1 innings, 1 batter, 1 hit, 1 pitch (1 strike). Heh.
• Marrero grounded out to 2b.
• Torrez struck out looking.
• DeMichele grounded out to 1b (unassisted).
• 13 pitches (8 for strikes).
• Texas up 2-1.
• 9th inning, Texas
• Lusson singled through the right side.
• Texas sent Sam Stafford to pinch run for Lusson.
• Montalbano moved Stafford to 2b on a 1-3 sac bunt.
• With Felts at the plate, Stafford moved up to 3b on a wild pitch.
• Felts went on do drew a 5-pitch walk.
• Visit to the mound...full infield involved. Coach Garrido took the opportunity to have a chat with Etier.
• Etier hit a 3-run homerun (2nd pitch) into the Texas bullpen!!!!!
• In a post-game interview, Coach Garrido said they had a bunt play on but he saw that ASU was set to play it perfectly so he let Etier loose.
• Shepherd lined a triple into cf. The ball went just off the center fielder's outstretched glove. Nice.
• Payton drew a 4-pitch walk.
• Arizona State sent Alex Blackford (rhp) to the mound, replacing Williams.
• Loy popped out to shallow rf. Shepherd tried to tag up and score on the play but he was thrown out (9-2) on the play. Another collision at the plate but not as melodramatic as the previous inning. Nice play by the right fielder who had to make a last-second adjustment to even catch the ball.
• Texas up 5-1.
• 9th inning, Arizona State
• Texas moved Montalbano to rf and sent Cohl Walla in at cf (taking Payton's spot in the lineup).
• Wilson struck out swinging.
• Newman also struck out swinging. Felts couldn't hold onto the ball so had to throw down to 1b to complete the out.
• Barnes grounded out to 2b.
• Final numbers for Knebel: 2 innings, 6 batters, no runs, no hits, 3 strikeouts, 25 pitches (17 for strikes).
• Texas wins 5-1!

Really nice win for the Horns. Texas will now play home team in the final game of the Super Regional. That was determined by a coin flip before the tournament started. Stafford will be on the mound for Texas. ASU has not announced a starter. Hook 'em, Horns!

Posted by Joanna at 3:25 PM