The Trojans started off hot, but slowly lost the lead. Cal had to rally twice from a six-run deficit, finally outscoring USC in the top of the ninth. It was a disappointing end to what was a very good series for USC, taking two out of three from the number 8 team in the nation. Not too bad.
Let’s see how the Trojans performed:
Starting pitching: C+
Ryan Cook had his worst start of the season, giving up a stunning 12 hits in 5 innings. He was able to find the strike zone, though, only walking one. He left a lot of pitches over the plate, and the Cal batters looked like they were taking batting practice. Most of Cook’s pitches had little movement, and his curve ball hung more often than not. However, he was able to keep his pitch count low by throwing almost all strikes and getting hit early in the count. His low pitch count (and the fact he was spotted 11 runs) was the only reason why Cook was able eat up five innings. All in all, Cook will want to forget this start.
Relief pitching: C-
Cabral spelled Cook in the sixth, going 2 1/3 and giving up eight hits. He, too, was throwing almost nothing but strikes and was absolutely tattooed. Hector Robago came in from third to take the mound, and was hit hard as well, giving up 3 hits in only 1 1/3. Robert Stock was called on to get the last out of the game, but also ceded the game winning hit to David Cooper. The relievers walked three and only struck out two in four innings.
Hitting: A+, then F
Trojans hitting was a tale of two games. When Chris Petrini and Daniel Wolford were pitching, the Trojans scored 11 runs in 3 1/3 innings on 11 hits and 2 walks. While Matt Gorgen and Blake Smith were on the mound, the Trojans scored no runs in 5 2/3 innings, with only 4 hits and 2 walks. The performance should have been enough, but the pitching didn’t hold up. The game finished off a series in which the Trojans scored 39 runs in three games, a nice awakening for the previously dormant Trojan bats. We’ll see if the SC offense can keep scoring runs against Cal State Fullerton and UC Santa Barbara.
Fielding: C-
There were some excellent plays in the field, like Anthony Vasquez’s leaping catch to rob a home run, but they were overshadowed by Hector Robago’s troubles at third, where he committed two errors, leading to two unearned runs. The third base position has caused concern for us throughout the year, with three different players taking multiple starts at the position.
Random thoughts:
The heat once again played a factor. Both teams looked sluggish and tired, probably due to the 95 degree heat and the 13 hours of baseball played in only 3 games.
Bunting is becoming a huge bane for USC. We tried to bunt Grant Green twice: Once with runners on first and second with nobody out, and once with a runner on second and nobody out. Taking the bat out of Green’s hands, especially while he’s on a hot streak, doesn’t seem like a wise managerial move. One of these days, I’ll get around to a full-size post on why bunting is bad.
Sometimes I feel like Tim Kurkjian – in watching baseball, every day I see something I’ve never seen before. In Sunday’s game, that moment was provided by Hector Robago and Grant Green. Grant Green came out for warmups between innings with an extra ball for Hector Robago. Robago took some warmup tosses as a pitcher with Green squatting as the catcher. Robago came in to pitch later in the inning.
Bottom Line:
USC played well and won the series. However, the team has to learn how to sweep a series.
