Hurricanes Run Win Streak To 16 With 10-2 Win Against Maryland
March 24, 2006
COLLEGE PARK, Md. (www.hurricanesports.com) – Carlos Gutierrez won his ACC-leading seventh-game of the season and Eddy Rodriguez drove in three runs to spark Miami to a 10-2 win against Maryland at Shipley Field Friday night. The win was Miami’s 16th in a row and pushed its season record to 22-6 overall and 7-0 in the ACC. Maryland dropped to 9-14 overall and 3-7 in the conference.
Gutierrez (7-1) overcame a slow start to shutout the Terrapins over the last six innings of a seven-inning outing. He struck out four without issuing a walk and gave up one earned run to post improve to 7-1 and lower his earned run average to 1.65.
Rodriguez continued his hot streak, going 3-for-4 with his team-leading sixth home run of the season and two runs scored. Tommy Giles went 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored. Walter Diaz also went 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI double.
Casey Baron (0-1) was charged with the loss for Maryland despite allowing just two earned runs. Six of the eight runs Baron allowed were scored as the direct or indirect result of Maryland errors.
Miami came out on the better end of a sloppy first inning by both teams. The Hurricanes jumped to a 4-0 lead on an error and a three-run home run from Rodriguez. Maryland shortstop Steven Braun mishandled a potential third-out grounder to second by Danny Valencia, allowing Jon Jay to score from third for the game’s first run. Rodriguez followed with a bomb to left field for the 4-0 lead.
The Terrapins answered with two runs in the second on a two-out double from catcher Chad Durakis to the left-center gap to drive in Braun from second and push Gary Spessard to third. Spessard scored on a passed ball to cut the lead to 4-2.
UM added to its lead in the fourth. Rodriguez singled and Giles doubled to center to put runners at second and third with one out for Gus Menendez. A wild pitch allowed Rodriguez to score from second and sent Giles to third. Menendez fouled out in right field, allowing Giles to tag and score for the 6-2 advantage.
Miami capitalized on more Maryland mistakes in the sixth. Giles hit a two-out single and advanced to second on Baron’s balk. Gus Menendez struck out for the third out, but the ball got away from Durakis behind the plate. Menendez ran to first and Durakis’ throw ended up in right field, allowing Giles to score from second and ending Baron’s night in favor of Kevin Biringer. Diaz greeted Biringer with an RBI double down the left-field line for the 8-2 UM lead.
The Hurricanes added two more runs in the ninth, with both scores coming as the result of a fourth Terrapin error. Diaz and Weeks reached on infield singles and Jay loaded the bases when his one-out fly ball to left field was dropped. Yonder Alonso hit a sac fly to right to score Diaz and Weeks scored Miami’s final run on a passed ball.
Jon McLean pitched two-thirds of an inning of relief for Miami. Andrew Lane finished the final inning and a third the Hurricanes and helped turn a 1-6-3 double play to end the game.
UM and Maryland continue the series Saturday at 7 p.m. at Shipley Field.
Notes: Jemile Weeks doubled in the first inning to extend his hitting streak to 14 games… Miami’s 16-game winning streak is tied for the 10th-longest in school history… UM’s team ERA dropped to 2.44… Rodriguez is hitting .531 over the last 10 games with four doubles, three home runs and 12 RBI.
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