Powered by a four-run first inning and a solo home run from senior Tyler Palmer in the second, the No. 13 Miami Hurricanes held on for a 6-3 win over visiting Maine on Opening Day at Mark Light Field.
“On our opening night, it’s a big win for us,” said head coach Jim Morris, who guided the Canes to their seventh straight win on Opening Day. “We played five freshmen, got some guys in there, and Tyler Palmer had a big night.”
Junior lefthander Chris Diaz (1-0) threw five strong innings in his season debut for Miami (1-0), striking out seven Black Bears batters and allowing just one earned run. Diaz, who ranked second in the conference with a 1.64 ERA in 2013, scattered six hits and three walks in the outing.
“It’s always nice to start out with a team win, especially on opening night,” Diaz said. “I felt good out there. I could have done a little better. I could have gone after hitters [more]. I’m just ready to come back next week.”
Starting three freshmen from its vaunted recruiting class in the lineup, Miami got its offense going in a hurry – aided by eight walks from Maine pitching on the night. Five of those came in the first, when the Hurricanes (1-0) batted around against Maine junior righthander Tommy Lawrence (0-1) and scored all four of their runs on bases-loaded walks.
“He had great stuff, he just couldn’t get his fast ball over for a strike,” Palmer said. “The umpire had a small zone, we made him pitch, and we took advantage.”
Back-to-back infield hits from outfielders Dale Carey and Palmer opened the action, while Lawrence walked five of the next six batters to give Miami the early 4-0 advantage. David Thompson, Ricky Eusebio, Garrett Kennedy and Alex Hernandez were each credited with RBI in the inning.
After the long layover in the first, Diaz found himself in a jam to start the second by allowing back-to-back singles and a walk. The Florida City, Fla., native worked his way out of the situation, however, yielding just one run by sandwiching two groundouts around a strikeout to maintain a 4-1 lead.
“There were a couple of situations where I had to bear down and throw some good pitches,” Diaz said. “I felt like I did that, and that’s why I was able to get out of it.”
The Hurricanes added a solo shot from Palmer, who finished 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBI, in the second inning. The three hits matched a career high for the senior captain.
“I’ve been hitting the ball well, seeing it well, and I took advantage of some of the counts I had,” Palmer said. “He had a 1-1 count when I hit the home run. He missed with a slider, came back with a fastball, and I got a good pitch to hit.”
Top 7 (1-2 maine)
1st Batter: ground out to 2nd
2nd Batter: walk
3rd Batter: single to left; runner to 2nd
4th Batter: single to right; basses loaded
5th Batter: STRIKE OUT #12 (2)
6th Batter: Full Count, Basses Loaded, 2 out STRIKE OUT #13 (3)
Posted by: Cane Since 1982 | February 15, 2014 at 09:01 PM
Bottom 7 (1-2 maine)
Ricky Eusebio: strike out
Jacob Heyward: strike out
(Pinch Hitter: Brad Fieger for Garrett Kennedy)
Brad Fieger: Double to left center warning track
(Pinch Runner: John Lawroski for Brad Fieger)
Alex Hernandez: Fly out to right field warning track
Posted by: Cane Since 1982 | February 15, 2014 at 09:10 PM
Top 8 (1-2 maine)
(Pitching Change: Bryan Garcia in for Javi Salas)
(Carlos Diaz in as catcher for Garrett Kennedy)
1st Batter: Ground out to catcher
2nd Batter: Ground out
3rd Batter: STRIKE OUT #13 (1)
Posted by: Cane Since 1982 | February 15, 2014 at 09:16 PM
Can we get some hits and runs up in here?
Posted by: SOUP | February 15, 2014 at 09:19 PM
Bottom 8 (1-2 maine)
(maine pitching change)
(Pinch Hitter: Willie Abreu for Laz Rivera)
Willie Abreu: Fly out to left field warning track
Dale Carry: Ground out to short
Tyler Palmer: round out to 3rd
Posted by: Cane Since 1982 | February 15, 2014 at 09:21 PM
Soup the Hard Ballers seem to be battling with the B-Ball team for most inept O tonight.
Posted by: Cane Since 1982 | February 15, 2014 at 09:23 PM
Top 9 (1-2 maine)
1st Batter: Double to left
2nd Batter: sac bunt; runner to 3rd
3rd Batter: intentional walk
4th Batter: walk
5th Batter: E6; all runners advance (1-3 maine)
6th Batter: In Field Fly Rule
7th Batter: STRIKE OUT #14 (2)
Posted by: Cane Since 1982 | February 15, 2014 at 09:39 PM
Bottom 9 (1-3 maine)
Zack Collins: Foul out to left
David Thompson: Foul out to 3rd
Ricky Eusebio: ground out
Posted by: Cane Since 1982 | February 15, 2014 at 09:46 PM
Did we just lose to Maine?
Posted by: Dude on a Pale Horse | February 15, 2014 at 09:49 PM
that is a ball game
the bats was not making contact tonight fellas
Posted by: Hassan | February 15, 2014 at 09:51 PM
maybe we should go back to talking football recruiting or firing No'D....
Posted by: Account Deleted | February 15, 2014 at 09:51 PM
From CIS:
New DT offer (Sterling Johnson; North Carolina)
5* film the best I have seen this year. The guy is huge and explosive. Little late looking at his offer list though.
http://youtu.be/1gZ1wNHtK2c
http://247sports.com/Player/Sterling-Johnson-36641
Posted by: Ohio_Cane | February 15, 2014 at 09:57 PM
Thought the baseball squad was supposed to be competitive this year. To sum up Canes fans experiences over the past decade -Disappointment.
Posted by: BEERicane | February 15, 2014 at 10:02 PM
Morris has been on the hot seat for 4-5 years now.
Posted by: BEERicane | February 15, 2014 at 10:03 PM
firing No'D....
Posted by: longtimecanefan | February 15, 2014 at 09:51 PM
Wait, what? Somebdy wants D'No fired?
Who would say such a thing? And why?
Posted by: SOUP | February 15, 2014 at 10:37 PM
Ah shiz... someone said fire No'D, that's the bat signal for a couple of bloggers 'round here.
Posted by: Dude on a Pale Horse | February 15, 2014 at 10:43 PM
You guys still mad from yesterday or nah?
Posted by: 30CINCO | February 15, 2014 at 11:01 PM
Soup. I love the forecast in the 305 for the Canes Four Play. It's gonna be a blast. Me, U, and KYCane, gonna have a ball.
Posted by: Terrance Sullivan | February 15, 2014 at 11:43 PM
Black bear meat had historically been held in high esteem among North America's indigenous people and colonists.[46] Black bears were the only bear species the Kutchin hunted for their meat, though this constituted only a small part of their diet.[25] According to the second volume of Frank Forester's field sports of the United States, and British provinces, of North America:
The flesh of the [black] bear is savoury, but rather luscious, and tastes not unlike pork. It was once so common an article of food in New-York as to have given the name of Bear Market to one of the principal markets of the city.
—Frank Forester's field sports of the United States, and British provinces, of North America p. 186
Theodore Roosevelt himself likened the flesh of young black bears to that of pork, and not as coarse or flavourless as the meat of grizzlies.[105] The most favoured cuts of the black bear's meat are concentrated in the legs and loins. Meat from the neck, front legs and shoulders is usually ground into mincemeat or used for stews and casseroles.
Posted by: SOUP | February 16, 2014 at 12:51 AM
If this cavalcade of defensive errors continues, Morris has got to be sent packing. Jesus god almighty, 5 years of incompetent fielding is enough!
5 damned errors?! year after year after year its the same crap in the field!
Posted by: Stanadrd Shriver | February 16, 2014 at 02:38 AM
Good pitching, sloppy fielding and subpar hitting -- stop me if you think you've heard this one before .-.
Posted by: VfB_Cane | February 16, 2014 at 06:51 AM
So football and baseball can't play D? Coincidence or conspiracy?
Posted by: Tom Hogg | February 16, 2014 at 08:55 AM
NEW BLOG IS UP!
Posted by: SOUP | February 16, 2014 at 09:18 AM