Hernandez Pitches No. 13 Miami Past Boston College, 5-1
May 1, 2009
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – Chris Hernandez allowed just one run in seven innings of work and Yasmani Grandal went 3-for-5 with a homer, two RBI and two runs scored as No. 13 Miami came away victorious in its series opener at Boston College, 5-1, Friday afternoon at Shea Field.
For the second straight start, Hernandez (6-3) held his opponent to just one run, scattering six hits and two walks before exiting after seven. His seven innings of work also tied his season-high set last month at Clemson (4/11). Kyle Bellamy came on in the eighth in relief of Hernandez and held the Eagles hitless over the final two innings to earn his ninth multi-inning save and his 13th overall this season.
After falling behind 1-0 after one, the Hurricanes (30-15, 14-11 ACC) evened it up in the second before taking the lead for good over Boston College (28-18, 11-12 ACC) with two runs in the top of the third. Ted Blackman got the second-inning rally going with a one-out walk and after advancing to second on a wild pitch, scored the go-ahead run on a Jason Hagerty single to left-center.
Grandal’s three-hit game was just his second this season while Ryan Jackson also finished with multiple hits, going 2-for-4 with a run scored. Hagerty finished the day 1-for-3 with two RBI and a run.
BC starter JB MacDonald (4-6) suffered the loss, allowing three runs on six hits while walking four and striking out three in 6 1/3 innings. Matt O’Brien tossed a scoreless inning in relief of MacDonald before Nat Bayuk and Kevin Moran combined to toss the final 1 2/3 innings.
A fielder’s choice grounder in the bottom of the first put Boston College up 1-0. Robbie Anston led off the inning with a double to right and after a sacrifice bunt moved him to third, a Mickey Wiswall grounder to second put the Eagles on the board first.
Grandal immediately tied the game at one in the top of the second, leading off the frame with an opposite field homer down the line in left.
Up 2-1 in the third after Hagerty’s RBI single, a Herrmann double put runners on second and third with one out before Grandal’s grounder to second scored Hagerty from third to put UM up two after three.
From there, both teams were held scoreless until a bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the eighth off the bat of Hagerty scored Jackson from third to put UM up, 4-1.
The `Canes added another run in the ninth when a David Villasuso double down the line in left scored Grandal to put UM up four.
Game two of the series will be played Saturday night at 6 p.m. at Campanelli Stadium in Brockton, Mass. David Gutierrez (2-5, 4.62 ERA) will take the mound for the `Canes while John Leonard (1-2, 7.25 ERA) is slated to go for the Eagles.
Game Notes
– Yasmani Grandal’s second-inning homer increased his team-leading total to 13 this season. Grandal also recorded his second three-hit game of the season, finishing the day 3-for-5.
– Harold Martinez extended his team-best hitting streak to eight games with a fifth-inning double.
– Chris Hernandez tied a season-high with seven innings pitched.
– The win for Miami was its 22nd come-from-behind victory this season.
