Driving me crazy again today behind the plate. Squires is back to the convoluted set of hand motions when giving the signs with a man at 2nd. Killing Hjelle's rhythm
Next batter in a hole, 0-2, hits a little chopper, weak, but over the 6'11 Hjelle...Heady tries to barehand it--probably wouldn't have done any good, but couldn't, and it's an infield single.
Time for a double play, Cats. Need Hjelle to pitch deep today.
Another weak chopper, but this one won't make it past Hjelle. Too slow and too risky to try for the force, so Hjelle goes to 1st for out # 2. Cards runner moves to 2nd.
Side note--Louisville's road uniforms look 100x better than their home uniforms.
Hjelle misses, then floats a curve over the plate. Fouled off, and he's ahead 1-2, and next pitch will be # 32 for him. Just misses inside--this umpire has a tight zone; hopefully UK can take advantage of it on our end. Easy grounder to Heady, he clutches and pumps, throws to first wide of the bag, but a terrific stretch with the foot on the bag, and out # 3.
Hjelle is probably 90% of what he is at his best today, it seems to me. A 90% Hjelle is awfully dang good, though. I am hoping he's not going to be tired early because he pitched Monday.
He's at 33 pitches through 2 innings, on pace for a 6 or 7 inning outing.
Hjelle is probably 90% of what he is at his best today, it seems to me. A 90% Hjelle is awfully dang good, though. I am hoping he's not going to be tired early because he pitched Monday.
He's at 33 pitches through 2 innings, on pace for a 6 or 7 inning outing.
Not one of his best outings so far. We need McKay to continue to throw a bunch.
Cottam up, and watches a couple of balls, and McKay isn't super sharp, either. Takes a strike, then whales at a fastball on the outside black and misses, and it's 2-2. Ball down and outside, and count is full. Cottam really crowds the plate, exposed to a good inside running fastball. McKay agrees, throws one there, and he fouls it away. Good job. Does it again, fouls it again. Cottam waiting on the mistake. Throws another there, this time Cottam doesn't get it, and misses the 94mph fastball for strike 3. McKay threw it perfectly each time.
Riley "Grand Slam" Mahan up and it's southpaw v southpaw. He's in the hole, 1-2 (have I said that a bunch already?) Ooh, takes a pitch inside that's a terrific pitch, but umpire squeezes it again, and it's 2-2. Ball low, and count full. Fly lifted to left field, and it's out # 2.
McKay has thrown over 100 pitches in every start he's had since the 4th appearance, so if Kentucky is trying to run his pitch count up, I wouldn't expect it to be successful without some hitting and walks before the 7th or 8th inning.
Squires at the plate (and behind the plate), and is ahead, 2-1. Fouls one off. Fouls another. Easy grounder to 2nd, 3 up, 3 down for UK.
Full count on the first batter (squeezing the zone), and fly to right field with the batter very late, headed toward the line but Pompey reels it in.
Super bunt down 3rd base line; Marshall does everything you can do, but he's safe with a bunt single. Louisville with a hit-and-run (or maybe straight steal), ball hit up the middle, with shortstop and 2nd base both covering the bag, but somehow it escapes both, and it's a base hit, and Cards have runners on the corners and this could be trouble.
2-0 on the hitter. Offspeed down in the zone, and it's 3-0. Most umpires would have called that a strike, but I have no problem with that one. There's a strike. Fouled off his foot, count full. Ball low, check swing strikeout, and runner steals. Their runner stopped about 6 feet from the bag, hoping for a throw, but Squires didn't throw, not risking it.
McKay up now, dangerous hitter, and two runners in scoring position. Ahead 0-1, and popped up....ooh, I didn't like how Heady caught that sorta crossways over his body, but shortstops generally have good agility, don't they?
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