Middle of the 8th... Brand New Ball Game
By Adam Aizer - February 10, 2007
These Bruins are scratching and clawing their way back into the game. UM's reliever Michael Rudman fails to record an out in the top of the eighth and gives up a run on three hits. Now it's up to UM's "closer" Enrique Garcia to get the Canes out of a big jam - runners on the corners, nobody out, one run in so far in the eighth, Miami leads 6-5.
I put "closer" in quotes because I don't think Miami really knows who its closer will be. This is a big moment for Garcia in his efforts to claim that job. There is action in the bullpen, but I think Jim Morris might be looking for six outs here.
He'll deal with a pinch hitter, who just so happens to be UCLA's best bat. Mickey Weisser wasn't feeling so well today, so he got the day off. But the .500 hitter is being called on now to drive in the tying run and perhaps more. A 1-2 pitch is in the dirt (score it a wild pitch) and the runner at first moves to second base. A base hit here for Weisser gives UCLA the lead. He swings at the 2-2, rolls it slowly toward first base...
GREAT PLAY by Yonder Alonso. Fires a dart to home plate where Richard O'Brien Jr. blocks the plate beautifully and tags out Will Penniall to keep UM on top by one. So now it's runners on the corners, one out, for Nolan Rouse the #9 hitter. Garcia jumps ahead 0-2, but uncorks yet another wild pitch that allows the tying run to touch home plate.
UCLA 6 - UM 6. A blown save for Garcia, though it's hardly his fault. He strikes out Rouse and gets Alden Carrithers to ground out to second base.
You can hear the announcers going, "But the damage has been done!" Or the Spanish announcers saying, "el dano se ha echo!"
We are tied heading to the bottom of inning number eight. New pitcher for UCLA. It's the senior Kevin Brophy who boasts an ERA of 99.00!!!
He gave up two runs without recording an out. 99.00!
Posted by Adam Aizer at 10:37 PM on February 10, 2007
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