It’s nauseating, really. No other way to put it and honestly, no other team on the planet Miami would want to have a hex over it. Not even Florida State, as the rivalry has always been rooted in mutual respect with coaches like Jim Morris and Ron Fraser representing the orange and green, with the witty Mike Martin repping the garnet and gold.
An eleven-game Gators’ win-streak over the Canes ended on Friday night, giving the feeling that all was again well in the world. UM advanced to 10-0 on the season, yet eighteen innings later, Miami rolled home 10-2, with Florida owning a new two-game win-streak over their Sunshine State rival.
After the thrilling 3-2 ninth-inning win on Friday night, Miami fell apart on Saturday night, giving up a four-run eighth, leading 3-2 with two to play.
Javi Salas was strong through six for the Canes, giving up four hits and allowing two runs, but relief pitching did Miami in. AJ Salcines gave up four hits and was charged with four runs, while Adam Sargent kept the bleeding going with two wild pitches.
Florida led 6-3 in the top of the ninth, with Miami getting one back after a David Thompson RBI double, but Brad Feiger was retired to end the game, 6-4.
Some more ugly stats; only four runs off of nine hits, as well as ten left on base, which was the theme Friday night, with ten runners stranded, as well.
Sunday proved to be more of the same as it was another close one early, blown-up by a four-run inning for Florida, this time coming in the bottom of the third. Miami again stranded a slew of runners, leaving seven on base in another close ball game.
A 1-1 ballgame after the first inning, the Gators manufactured four runs courtesy of an errant pick-off attempt, a sacrifice fly and an RBI single and triple, extending the lead to, 5-1.
Miami picked up one on the fifth, narrowing things to a 6-2 deficit, but went quiet again before picking up one in the ninth en route to the 6-3 loss.
Six hits, three runs, three errors and more stranded runners.
The anti-Morris contingent is already in full-force this morning, with Miami at 10-2 after starting the season unranked and while there should be frustration after a loss, again how much is on coaches versus players?
Twenty-seven runners left on base in a three-game series where two games we lost by a combined five runs?
Look at Sunday’s numbers. Thompson was 0-for-4, as was Alex San Juan. Michael Broad was 0-for-2. Chantz Mack was 0-for-3. On Saturday it was Tyler Palmer who was 0-for-5, Alex Hernandez going 1-for-4, Feiger a paltry 1-for-5, Dale Carey 0-for-3 and San Juan again doing little, going 1-for-4.
Bats cold and runners stranded. Not a good combination.
Miami pitching had a few rough innings this past weekend, but wasn’t the main culprit. The lack of hitting and moving base runners around is what killed the Canes – and against the Gators, there’s no excuse. The motivation was certainly there and after a Friday night win, the curse had been broken and hex, no more.
UM had UF right where it wanted it after game one and somehow stepped down while the bad guys stepped up those final two games. Inexcusable and inexplicable.
Miami is back in action at The Light this week, taking on Maine this Tuesday and Central Florida on Wednesday. From there a three-game home-stand in the first ACC showdown of the season as Duke heads to town.
Miami has seven straight at home before heading to Chapel Hill on March 15th to take on North Carolina.
Mismanagement of the bullpen Saturday night lost us the game. Bringing in Salcinas in the 7th for a 3 inning save? Then to bring in Sargent who hasn’t pitched an inning yet (injury?) comes in on 10 warm up pitches in 40′ weather with base runners? Friday night using B-Rad for his 2nd outing in two days, Whaley on Sunday who clearly has arm problems…..doesn’t make sense. IMO. Arteaga will be this years scapegoat while everyone knows Morris makes all the pitching decisions. We’ll be stuck with Morris for another year of mediocre baseball. Thank god Coach Fraser isn’t around to watch this debacle.