Florida was 0-15 in bases loaded opportunities until Dustin Bamberg
drilled a single to center field. The inning was indeed the offensive
difference in this decision and the work in progress that is the Florida
baseball team is headed upward. Seven different Gators had hits in the
game- including four who are in their first year with the club.
Florida (4-2) defeated fifth ranked Miami (3-4) for a record seventh
consecutive time and secured the series over the Hurricanes before a
wonderful crowd of 4,427. The Gators will go for the sweep tomorrow
afternoon at McKethan Stadium.
Avery Barnes, who was hitting in the nine hole, got things going in the
all-important fourth with a single up the gut. Shortstop Jon Townsend
followed with a single through the left side gap. Florida head coach Pat McMahon called for a hit and run with the hot hitting Cole Figueroa, who
was 2 for 2 in the game. Figueroa hit the ball to first base enabling the
runners advance into scoring position. Miami skipper Jim Morris called for
the intentional walk of Florida home run king Matt LaPorta to load the
bases. Finally things worked out for the Gators with the bases loaded.
Clean-up hitter Matt den Dekker beautifully worked Miami reliever Eric
Erickson for ten pitches before securing the free pass that scored Barnes.
The extended appearance allowed the bottom half of the Florida order a
tremendous opportunity to look him over.
“You know, that was one of the neat things about this game,” McMahon said.
“Erickson and den Dekker matched up bases loaded. What a neat match-up. I
think that you got to compliment both of them in that scenario. Eric kept
forcing the ball in the strike zone and Matt den Dekker did a great job of
fouling off some pitches and then finally had the presence to take the
pitch for bases loaded. That was a huge play for us, because obviously as
game's unfold it's grabbing a moment and Matt den Dekker did that for us.”
“No question,” he added when asked about the importance of allowing the
remaining order to see Erickson before he faced them. “As a result of
that, as game's unfold it's one at bat so often can make, one pitch so
often can determine the outcome of a game. When it's going to happen no
one knows that. So, when the opportunity presents itself players have to
step up and grab it. He's just continuing to get better and better as a
ballplayer for us and we're excited about that.”
Clayton Pisani stroked the ball to third base where Gus Menendez couldn't
get a handle on it allowing Townsend to score. It was Menendez' third
error in the series. He was later replaced by Roger Tomas. Dustin Bamberg
pinch hit for Barber. He delivered with a run scoring single to center
field giving the Gators a 5-3 lead. It was the first time this season the
Gators moved a runner home with the bases loaded.
McMahon lifted Hampton Tignor for pinch hitter Jonathan Pigott, who turned
on Erickson pitch and smacked it to center field. Den Dekker on the play.
Pisani scored and Pigott advanced to second on the throw. Barnes batted
once more in the inning and struck out as Florida put up five runs and
took command of the game.
The beginning wasn't exactly what the home team had planned. Southpaw
Stephen Locke surrendered the Gators first home run of the 2006 season
when Miami first baseman Yonder Alonzo cranked the second pitch of the
game over the left field fence with Ryan Jackson aboard. Locke began the
game by striking out leadoff hitter Jemile Weeks, who had two of the
Hurricanes four hits on Friday night.
It didn't take Florida leadoff hitter Jon Townsend long to establish
himself as the offensive catalyst in this ballgame. He ripped starter
Danny Gil's second pitch down the left field line for a double. Cole
Figueroa took Gil's next offering right back at him, through the middle.
Townsend demonstrated outstanding hustle and beat the relay throw to the
plate for the Gators first run.
Matt LaPorta was hit by a pitch. Two batters later, Gil plunked Clayton
Pisani with a pitch on a full count to load the bases. However, despite
having only one out, the Gators came away empty.
Cole Figueroa led off the Florida third blasting Gil's third pitch over
the right field fence where it pelted the trunk of a palm tree. Figueroa
went 2 for 5 in the game and had six defensive assists. Matt den Dekker
pounded a one-out single to right field. Pisani drew a full count base on
the sixth pitch. Designated hitter Bryson Barber singled to right field
to load the bases once again. Senior Brian Leclerc looked at a called
third strike that caught the inside corner of the plate. Hampton Tignor
and struck out swinging on a full count to end the threat.
“They might want to challenge me because I'm a freshman,” Figueroa said.
“It definitely helps having Matt (LaPorta) hit behind me because I'm
definitely going to see a lot more pitches. Teams are definitely going to
want to pitch around Matt and go around him.”
Defensively, LaPorta was sensational. He took away a hard hit balls from
Jason Hagerty, Dave DiNatale, and Blake Tekotte. He made two outstanding
plays on ground balls that could well have added base runners for the
Hurricanes on Hagerty and Tekotte, which came in the ninth inning drawing
a rousing applause form the large crowd.
“I don't really get too much credit for my defense,” LaPorta stated. “For
some reason, people don't think that I can play defense.”
Locke allowed four hits and three earned runs in four innings. He struck
out two and walked one. He gave way to Patrick Keating who picked up the
victory. He gave up four hits and two earned runs in 2.2 innings of work.
Josh Edmondson and David Hurst closed things out for the Gators. Neither
allowed a hit in 2.1 combined innings.
The teams will met for the final time of the series on Sunday. First pitch
is scheduled for 1pm. Florida will send right hander Billy Bullock (1-0,
0.00 ERA) to the mound. Miami will counter with right hander Manny Miguelez (0-0, 2.25 ERA)
LaPorta was honored for breaking the University of Florida home run
record. His parents, Vince and Cindy were on hand with head coach Pat
McMahon at home plate for the recognition. Long live “The King”.
Brandon McArthur is still unable to play with a sore arm. Jared Kubin will
be out for an extended period with a dislocated shoulder.