No. 7 UM Uses Long Ball to Take Series Over No. 23 FSU, 14-8
April 5, 2009
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Harold Martinez and Yasmani Grandal each hit grand slam homers and starter Iden Nazario struck out six in six innings of work as No. 7 Miami beat No. 23 Florida State, 14-8, Sunday afternoon in front of 3,209 at Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field.
The victory secured Miami’s (23-8, 10-5 ACC) second straight series win over the Florida State (18-10, 7-6 ACC), after the `Canes took two-of-three from the Seminoles last year in Tallahassee. The 14 runs scored by the `Canes on Sunday was the most UM has put up against FSU since winning 17-11 on April 10, 2004 in Tallahassee.
After FSU plated a run in the top half of the first, the Hurricanes put up five runs in the bottom of the frame and another five in the second to put the game out of reach early on.
Martinez had his best day at the plate as a Hurricane, going 3-for-5 with two homers, a career-high five RBI and two runs scored. Grandal also finished with five RBI, going 1-for-5 with two runs scored. Jason Hagerty (2-for-3, one walk, three runs), Ryan Jackson (2-for-3, one run) and Ted Blackman (2-for-3, two walks, one run) joined Martinez in finishing with multiple hits.
The Hurricanes loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the first with two walks and a hit-by-pitch. A fielder’s choice grounder to second and an error on FSU shortstop Stephen Cardullo brought Scott Lawson home from third to tie it up at 1-1. With the bases loaded again, Martinez smacked his first of two homers on the day over the wall in left to put the `Canes up four after one.
In the second, Ryan Jackson singled to lead off the inning and after a Nathan Melendres flyout and a Lawson hit-by-pitch, Jason Hagerty doubled home Jackson for the first run of the inning. With runners on second and third, Chris Herrmann drew a four-pitch walk which set up Grandal’s grand slam to left, clearing the bases to put the `Canes up 10-1.
The two grand-slam game for Miami was its first since Gaby Sanchez and Joey Hooft accomplished the feat versus Pace University on May 2, 2003.
Nazario (4-0) won for the second consecutive weekend, allowing four runs on five hits while walking five.
FSU starter Mike McGee lasted just 1 1/3 innings, giving seven earned runs on three hits while walking three and striking out one. Geoff Parker, Hunter Scantling, Tyler Everett, Jack Posey and Jimmy Marshall combined to go the rest of the way, allowing a combined six runs on nine hits after McGee exited in the second.
Florida State came back with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth inning. Tommy Oravetz and Parker Brunelle hit back-to-back triples before Brunelle scored on a wild pitch to cut UM’s lead to 10-3.
McGee, who moved into the outfield after being relieved on the mound, hit a solo homer in the sixth but UM came right back with two runs on a Chris Herrmann double in the bottom of the inning to go up 12-4.
FSU added three runs in the seventh and another in the ninth while UM scored two in the seventh – highlighted by Martinez’s second homer of the day, a solo shot to right.
Taylor Wulf, Sam Robinson and Travis Miller pitched the final three innings in relief for UM.
McGee finished the day 2-for-5 with two homers, five RBI and two runs scored .
Miami returns to the diamond Tuesday evening when it plays host to FAU at Alex Rodriguez Park. It will be the second of three meetings between the Hurricanes and the Owls. UM won the first match-up, 13-6, in Boca Raton on March 25. Tuesday’s game scheduled for 6 p.m.
Game Notes
– Harold Martinez and Yasmani each had a grand slam home run. The last time the Hurricanes had two grand slams in a game was May 2, 2003 against Pace University when Gaby Sanchez and Joey Hooft accomplished the feat. Miami has now hit three grand slams as a team this season.
– Harold Martinez had his first multi-home run game of his career.
– Harold Martinez and Jason Hagerty both extended their hitting streaks to eight games.
– The come-from-behind win was Miami’s 16th of the season.
– Miami went to 7-0 in games played on Sunday and 10-0 in day games this season.
– Miami has scored double-digit runs in three of the seven games Iden Nazario has started. The Hurricanes have also scored at least six runs or more in all games started by Nazario.
-The teams combined for six runs on just one hit in a 37-minute first inning.
Series Notes
– Scott Lawson, who came into the series with just two stolen bases, recorded a series-high three steals against Florida State.
– Miami had committed at least one error in all but six games heading into the weekend. This was the first series this season the Hurricanes went errorless.
– Harold Martinez had a big weekend at the plate, going 7-for-12 with five runs scored, two doubles, three home runs, six RBI and 18 total bases.
-Jason Hagerty also paced the Hurricanes over the weekend, going 5-for-10 with five runs scored and three RBI.
-Harold Martinez now leads the team with nine multi-RBI games and is tied for the team lead with 10 multi-hit games.
– Miami won the series despite Florida State scoring first in all three games. Miami has won 16 of their 23 games coming-from-behind.
-The teams combined for 16 home runs over three games. Florida State had 10 homers while Miami recorded six.
