NASHVILLE: Alvarez learns

By Chris Lee - April 22, 2007

While we're sitting in the press box discussing the struggles of all-American third baseman Pedro Alvarez, who is being constantly pitched away with change-up after change-up on the outside part of the plate that he's tried to pull, the Vols' Lance McClain got Alvarez 0-2 with a strike looking and another one that Alvarez tried to pull, but shouldn't have.

Vanderbitl's Will Matthews, who also writes some for CSTV, mentioned after Alvarez went 0-2 how much he'd like to see Alvarez go the other way.

Three pitches later,Will got his wish. Alvarez went the other way to deep left-center on a ball that carried better than I thought it would, and he got it over the 375 mark for a three-run homer to bring Vandy within two runs of the Vols at 5-3.

Vandy's Ryan Flaherty lined one to deep right to follow, but the ball was caught on the warning track. The Commodores are hitting the ball well today, and with Vandy's pitching troubles, it may be a long day at the park here at Hawkins Field.