Cockroft Shuts Down Jacksonville, 12-2
May 9, 2003
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – J.D. Cockroft pitched six impressive innings as 17th-ranked Miami disposed of the Jacksonville Dolphins, 12-2, on Friday night in front of 776 fans at Alexander Brest Field.
Miami improves to 33-11-1 on the season, winning its fourth straight game. Jacksonville falls to 24-26 on the season.
Cockroft picks up the win to improve to 8-2 on the season with six innings of almost flawless pitching. He allowed two infield hits, while striking out seven and walking none. Cockroft has now pitched 19.2 scoreless innings since giving up a solo home run to Stephen Drew on the second pitch of the Florida State game on April 25th.
A leadoff walk to Danny Figueroa proved costly for Jacksonville starter Dennis Robinson. Figueroa stole his 29th and 30th bases of the season before Ryan Braun drove him home with a double off the top of the wall in left field. After walking two more Hurricanes, Robinson struck out Erick San Pedro to get out of the inning after throwing 37 pitches.
Two more walks plagued Robinson in the third inning, as Joey Hooft made him pay with a two-out two-strike single past the first baseman to give UM a 3-0 lead. Paco Figueroa followed with a single that moved Hooft to third base and chased Robinson from the game after 2.2 innings.
Robinson took the loss falling to 2-4 on the season, surrendering three runs on four hits, but struggled with his control walking six and striking out three, while throwing 87 pitches.
Adam Ricks led off the fourth inning with a solo home run to right field for his fourth round-tripper of the season. The Canes added another run in the inning as Brian Barton came around to score on an error by the JU shortstop.
The Hurricanes extended their lead 6-0 in the fifth inning on a RBI single by Ricks for his 44th RBI of the season.
Kyle DeVries became the Dolphins’ third pitcher of the night in the sixth inning as Gaby Sanchez and Joey Hooft greeted him with RBI singles.
Matt Barket pinch hit for Paco Figueroa in the eighth inning and delivered a two-out two-RBI single. Ricks followed with his fourth RBI of the night on a double into the right-center field gap to give UM a 12-0 lead.
Alex Blanco came on to pitch the seventh and eighth inning, while one hit and holding the Dolphins scoreless. Shawn Valdes-Fauli pitched the ninth and allowed two runs on Chris Kelly’s RBI triple.
The two teams will meet again on Saturday at 7 p.m., as the Hurricanes look to clinch the series at Alexander Brest Stadium.
