Let to the game-- after Byrd's leadoff single, did Stainback again fail to execute a sac bunt before grounding into a double play? Just curious?

Can Ewing bunt. Tailor made place for one.

And the answer is yes.

Simms strikes outKKKK the side in order in the 2nd.

Aquino reaches on an E-5. Leadoff baserunner.
Ratterree walked. Normally, I'd bunt here, but there's no guarantees behind Skyler in the lineup...
Ewing successfully moves both runners into scoring position, one out.
Hunter K. registers his first career RBI with a sac fly! Runner at 3B, two outs.
Teykl clutch, two-out RBI! Runner on 1B, two outs.
Perrott flied out to CF.
Excellent inning with both outstanding execution (sac bunt, sac fly) and clutch hitting.

Good guys take a 2-0 lead heading to the top of the third inning.

(03-12-2013 06:49 PM)Ranger Wrote:  Can Ewing bunt. Tailor made place for one.

And the answer is yes.

Skyler has really impressed me in the early going (despite his low AVG). He is fundamentally sound in everything he does-- both offensively and defensively (especially at 1B).

1-2-3 inning for Big John (two groundouts, fly out).

Byrd flied out to LF.
Stainback reached on an E-6, as Louisiana Tech's defensive vulnerability to presenting itself.
Stringer forced Ford at 2B. Runner at 1B, two ous.
Aquino flied to CF.
Come on, guys-- let's not let this very mediocre pitcher settle in.

Good guys lead 2-0 heading to the top of the fourth inning.

That's 10 straight retired by Big John (two strikeoutsKKKKKK, ground out). Let's break this one open here and now with a big offensive outburst. A wee bit more patience than last inning please.

Ratterree ground out to 3B.
Ewing grounded out to SS.
Hunter K. singles up the middle.
Teykl line single to RF. Runners on 1B and 2B, two outs.
Perrott ground out to SS.

Good guys lead 2-0 heading to the top of the fifth inning.

Oh man! Of all teams that Thor could go to, Philadelphia!?! Yuck!

John walked his first two batters of the game, but escaped unscathed thanks to a couple strikeoutsKKKKKKKK and Perrott gunning down an attempted basestealer.

BTW, anyone venture to rationalize why we're using Simms as a mid-week starter? IMO, he should either be our primary closer (with Lemond sharing the role), appearing 2 - 3 times a week (ala Aardsma, CSC, Duffey, Cingrani) or a weekend starter.

Due time to get to their starter, who has now lasted longer than any outing so far this year...

Byrd leadoff single. Good start. Now, can Ford FINALLY lay down a successful bunt???
Stainback pops to 2B. Really awful AB. Ford has failed repeatedly (at least 7 or 8 consecutive times now) moving Byrd over after he got on to leadoff an inning. It's really getting old.
Stringer singles. Runners on 1B and 2B, one out...and the failure to bunt just cost us another run. Also, once again station-to-station running even with our faster runner on 1B.
Aquino walked to load the bases with one out. We MUST capitalize here. Michael needs to wait until he gets a pitch he can drive...
Bulldogs bring in one of their stud relievers, RS Sr RHP Gilley (he of the 0.93 ERA and 11 Ks in 9.2 IP)...
Ratterree grounded into a 5-5-3 doubleplay. Good grief!
Again, I really, really like Ford, but if cannot learn to bunt-- and continues to fail to execute time and time again-- he has to be moved down in the order. A #2 hitter MUST be able to lay down the bunt at least 75% - 80% of the time.

Good guys lead 2-0 heading to the top of the sixth inning.

is Hoelscher injured, or just in the doghouse?

(03-12-2013 07:45 PM)stompclapwhoosh Wrote:  is Hoelscher injured, or just in the doghouse?

He injured his hand pounding the grass at Minute Maid after an error. 6-8 weeks.

Oh, see i was watching that on GameTracker and assumed WG just pulled him.

Very quick and efficient 1-2-3 inning for John (two groundouts, fly out).

Ewing grounded out to SS.
Hunter K. line single. (2-2, sac fly.)
Cook comes in as pinch runner.
Teykl line single. (3-3) Runners on 1B and 3B, one out. Way to go Freshmen-- Byrd, Hunter and Teykl have 7 of our 8 hits so far!
Perrott RBI bunt single! Way to go, Geoff! Runners on 1B and 2B, one out.
Byrd grounded into double play. Argggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhh.
Well, a nicely executed inning up to that point, but we should have 7 - 8 runs by now.

Good guys stretch the lead to 3-0 heading to the top of the seventh inning.

I am SO impressed with Teykl in particular--a definite bright spot so far!

John gives up a two-out walk, but nothing more (strikeoutKKKKKKKKK, ground out, fly out).

Stainback grounded out to 2B.
Stringer ground at to 1B. Come on, guys-- let's not fall asleep on a 3-0 lead.
Aquino ground out to SS.
Too easy an inning for our #2,3,4 hitters.

Good guys lead 3-0 heading to the top of the eighth inning.

Simms gives up 2 runs and 3 hits in the top of the 8th but Rice still leads 3-2.

Another RBI for Teykl, now hitting .343 overall. 4-2 with two outs in the bottom of the 8th

Big John finally hit the wall, giving up a double, sandwiched between two singles, to plate two, though he did record his 10th and 11th strikeoutsKKKKKKKKKKK. This game is on the offense, who have squandered far too many opportunities once again. Need to get some insurance, as LaTech will have renewed confidence batting in the 9th.

Ratterree leadoff walk...then promptly stole his 4th base of the season. Let's convert here.
Ewing struck out looking. Geez...you've GOT to put the ball in play there....and you cannot take a close pitch looking.
Cook flied to RF, with Rat moving to 3B, but with two outs.
Teykl WOW goes 4-4 with a cluth, two-out RBI single! HUGE hit, and HUGE game for Connor.
Perrott hit by pitch for 4th time this year. Runners on 1B and 2B, two outs.
Byrd popped to SS.
Critical run there. Kuddos to Michael and Connor.

Good guys take a 4-2 lead into the top of the ninth inning.

This team doesn't score much. Sunday was a bonanza.

Yeah, we win 4-2 with Simms getting a complete game.

Pitching on fumes, Big John held on for the complete game win, after giving up a leadoff single, a stolen base wild pitch and walk. Offense came through in the end, but it simply has got to get more effiicent and stop leaving runners in scoring position with less than two outs, and repeatedly failing to get the leadoff baserunner into scoring position. I also just don't get The OG's decision to not only use Simms as a mid-week starter (rather than having him come in in that critical, game on the line spot in the 2nd inning on Sunday), but to have him throw so many pitches tonight, even after he had clearly hit the wall hard. No way John can pitch again, even in relief, until Sunday at the very earliest. Given Big John is arguably our second best pitcher and has as much big game experience as any pitcher on the team, his role has got to be either a weekend starter or our primary closer heading into conference play in 10 days. This would appear to be especially the case given Lemond and Rutter have been struggling of late, and we don't have a reliable reliever at the moment.

Game Ball #1: John Simms (W, 4-1, 9.0 IP, 5 hits, 2 runs, 4 BBs, 12 Ks)-- Big John was absolutely dominant through the first 7 innings (surrender just a lonely first inning single), before tiring. Yet another outstanding performance from our vet.

Game Ball #2: Connor Teykl (4-4, 2 RBIs)-- breakout game for the Freshman, though, in reality, he's hitting above .500 since taking over at 3B eight games ago.

Game Ball #3: I could have given it to Leon Byrd (2-5) or Geoff Perrott (1-3, HBP, RBI, game-calling), but it goes to another Freshman, Hunter Kopycinski (2-2, RBI) for getting his first career start, his first hits and his first RBI. Congrats.

This one was far too close for comfort. Should have been an early blowout, but our offense once again failed to take advantage of opportunity after opportunity. Not sure who will get the start for us (Mason?, Rutter?, Spurlin?, Fox?), but I suspect we'll be pitching "all staff". We're going against a JUCO transfer RHP, Omar Ugarte, who hasn't exactly impressed in the early going (7 app, 2 starts, 1-1, 11.0 IP, 7.36 ERA, 2.61 BAA, 12 hits, 12 BBs, 4 HBP, 14 Ks). He obviously is a power pitcher (given the high strikeout total), but very much the wild thing, issuing almost 1.5 free passes per IP. Tomorrow night we REALLY need to be patient at the start, and not help this guy out. He's hittable, for sure, but let's not swing at pitches out of the strike zone.

Go Owls!