Miami Falters Late In 8-2 Loss To Virginia
April 21, 2006
CORAL GABLES, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com) – Miami cruised through five innings before giving up eight runs in the sixth, seventh and eighth in an 8-2 series-opening loss to Virginia Friday night at Mark Light Field. The 19th-ranked Hurricanes dropped to 26-14 overall and 11-8 in the Atlantic Coast Conference Coastal Division, a game behind the No. 17 Cavaliers (33-9 overall, 12-7).
Carlos Gutierrez (8-4) lasted 5.1 innings and gave up five runs, three earned, on six hits with two walks in the loss. All five runs Gutierrez gave up came in the decisive sixth inning.
Sean Doolittle (7-1) recovered from a shaky first inning to record nine strikeouts in 7.1 innings of work. Doolittle allowed only two base runners and one hit after the first and helped himself out at the plate with a two-run double in the sixth.
Danny Valencia hit his fourth home run of the season and Yonder Alonso drove in his 48th run of the year to lead Miami. Brandon Guyer went 2-for-5 with a home run and Patrick Wingfield and Beau Seabury both scored and had two hits for the Cavaliers.
Miami took a quick 2-0 lead after the first, scoring both runs with two outs. Valencia drove a 2-1 pitch from Doolittle over the wall in left-center for the first run of the game, marking the first earned run scored against the Cavaliers in more than 20 innings. Richard O’Brien followed with a single and moved into scoring position with his first career stolen base. Alonso’s 12th double of the season brought O’Brien home for Miami’s second score of the inning.
Gutierrez kept Virginia at bay until a five-run sixth inning. The Cavaliers were aided by Gutierrez’s throwing error and a passed ball, both of which led to Virginia runs. Tim Henry drew a leadoff walk and moved to third when Gutierrez threw the ball away on Brandon Marsh’s sac bunt attempt. Doolittle helped his own cause, driving in Henry and Marsh with a double to center to tie the game at 2-2. Virginia took the lead two batters later on Guyer’s two-run home run. Tom Hagan’s double meant the end of the night for Gutierrez, who was replaced by Jon McLean. A passed ball put Hagan at third, setting up Wingfield’s sac fly to right that gave Virginia a 5-2 lead.
McLean started the seventh by hitting Greg Miclat and giving up a single Henry. Marsh singled down the third-base line to score Henry and give the Cavaliers a 6-2 cushion.
Seabury singled home Wingfield with two outs in the seventh to put Virginia up 7-2 and chase McLean in favor of Andrew Lane. Lane was greeted by a double to left by Miclat that scored Seabury for the final six-run lead.
The Hurricanes and Cavaliers continue series play with a 7 p.m. first pitch on Saturday at Mark Light Field.
Notes: The Hurricanes turned a season-high three double plays.
