Raj starting, but off to a rough start. Two singles and a walk to load the bases with nobody out

Goodness. A four pitch walk to drive in a run. No mas, por favor.

When I heard Raj was starting I decided not to trek out to Reckling. As it was I would have had to leave by 8:00pm at the latest as I have 5:30am flight out tomorrow morning.

I just don't understand the logic in starting Raj, who has been bombed his last 4 - 5 outings. What exactly did Jose expect-- that he'd miraculously turn things around over the past 2 days?

Baserunning error by UH on a line shot out save Raj. His night: back-to-back singles, followed by back to back walks, followed by a wild pitch, followed by a line out to RF (with a runner doubled up), followed by another walk. Ben-Shoshan came in to get the final out and leave the bases loaded. To say we were fortunate to be down only 2-0 is an understatement.

And Rice answers: Garibay K, Gallo single, Reidel double, Walsh double, Garza line out to SS, Becker ground out. Becker's first appearance in over a month, but why take Smiggy out of the lineup as he's been hitting well of late?

Walsh's 2-RBI double just missed going out, hitting several inches below the wall in the straightaway CF.

2-2 heading to T2.

No luck today as both Reidel and Walsh hit the ball on the button, but lined out to the OF. That's 4 loud OF outs in just the first 3 innings.

Is Jose trying to give this game away? Why did he decide to pitch Rodriguez for the first time in over a month? Yes, the result was the same-- he gave up two runs in 0.2 IP. UH leads 4-3 with Rice batting in B5. Royo hit a solo shot in the 4th. Was that his 10th of the year?

Rice ties it up again on a Walsh walk, stolen base, passed ball, Manny walk, Holderbach successful squeeze.

(05-03-2023 08:21 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  Is Jose trying to give this game away? Why did he decide to pitch Rodriguez for the first time in over a month? Yes, the result was the same-- he gave up two runs in 0.2 IP. UH leads 4-3 with Rice batting in B5. Royo hit a solo shot in the 4th. Was that his 10th of the year?

Yes. First freshman to get double digits in homers since Ratteree in 2010 I think? Rendon has the freshman record with 20 in 2009.

Looks like Jose is going to pitch everyone save for Linskey and Long. Stratton comes in and gives up the go-ahead run without a hit (walk, HBP, force out with runners advancing, wild pitch). Now he's going with Perkins in T7.

WTF? We get the first two batters on base in B8 (Holderbach single, Royo HBP) and Jose goes righty-lefty, pinch hitting Devenny with Duffield. I wouldn't have made that move regardless, but to compound the issue, UH countered by bringing in their RHP closer. Is Duffield a more reliable bunter than Devenny? That's the only plausible explanation. And Duffield strikes out. Our situational hitting continues to be non-existent. Garibay walks to load the bases (without a hit). We've already left the bases loaded once tonight. It's up to Gallo and then Reidel.

And yet another pitcher-- the two teams have combined to use 16 pitchers so far.

Gallo grounds into a rally-killing, inning-ending DP. That's why you sacrifice in the prior situation, especially with your weakest hitter.

Whatever happens in B9, hats off to Mark Perkins, who had the best outing of his Rice career to date, tossing 3 shutout innings, giving up just one hit, no walks or HBPs, and struck out 4. Well done!

Rice leads off the B9 with back to back singles by Reidel and Walsh. I would usually ask Manny to bunt here, but not with Becker due up next.

Bad bunt by Manny nails the runner at 3B. Runners on 1B and 2B, one out. Why isn't Smiggy pinch hitting for Becker? My only guess is that Smiggy was a late scratch and, rather than redoing his batting order, Jose simply inserted Becker in the Smiggy spot.

Becker comes through with his first hit in gawd knows how long (and on an 0-2 count, no less), but it's pop up that UH fails to catch. Consequently, no chance for Walsh to advance beyond 3B. Bases loaded once again (3rd time the charm?) for Holderback with one out.

Holderbach ties it up on a grounder with Walsh beating the throw, but another stupid baserunning blunder (Salazar running for Manny) gets thrown out trying to go from first to 3B. Absolutely idiotic.

And we go to extras without our far superior defensive catcher. Have we won a single extra inning game this year? I doubt it.

Hats off also to both Royo and Gallo, who have played exceptional middle infield defense all game.

Edit: Sorry for the jinx. After making yet another great play to get the first out in the 10th, Royo makes an error on the next batter.

...but Perkins gets out of it. Four shutout, one-hit innings for Perkins.

Rice goes out 1-2-3 on 7 pitches.

Linskey in to pitch the 11th.

Strikeout. Ground out. Fly out.

B11...
Reidel ground out.
Walsh flied out to deep CF.
Salazar singles up the middle.
Becker popped up.

That's it for me as I have to get up way, way too early to catch a flight.

UH scores 3 in the T12. Owls lose 8-5. Season has spiraled out of control.

Defense cost us that game. 4 errors led to 3 unearned runs not to mention the missed played balls in the outfield and overthrowing cuts that led to more runs.

(05-03-2023 08:21 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  Is Jose trying to give this game away? Why did he decide to pitch Rodriguez for the first time in over a month? Yes, the result was the same-- he gave up two runs in 0.2 IP. UH leads 4-3 with Rice batting in B5. Royo hit a solo shot in the 4th. Was that his 10th of the year?

Runs were unearned, with an error on Gallo to open the inning.

(05-03-2023 10:59 PM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  Season has spiraled out of control.

Same problems as at the start of the season, only exacerbated a bit by injuries at this point. Mental block on clutch hitting, holes in the batting lineup, and not enough bullpen depth. All three came into play in the extra innings.

(05-04-2023 09:55 AM)Frizzy Owl Wrote:  

(05-03-2023 10:59 PM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  Season has spiraled out of control.

Same problems as at the start of the season, only exacerbated a bit by injuries at this point. Mental block on clutch hitting, holes in the batting lineup, and not enough bullpen depth. All three came into play in the extra innings.

Through the 1st 22 games, the Owls were 11-11. Fans were hopeful the Owls could continue to show improvement, finish at or above .500, and make the CUSA tournament.

In their last 22 games the Owls are 6-16. The Owls are now 10 games under .500 with only a long shot of a chance at making the Conference tournament. Play has not improved, IMO.

I'd call that spiraling out of control.