Texas vs. Rice Game 2

[Bevo1970]

This thread was originally submitted by member = NBHorn7
This post was made just before going to the new 2015 platform. Post as normal after these added posts if you wish.

NBHorn7
(2500+ posts)
02/14/15 11:29 AM
Texas vs. Rice Game 2

It's Valentines Day and if you love baseball of a Longhorn variety then your really going to enjoy today with two games against what is has become a pretty good rivalry for Texas in the Rice Owls.

A quick turn around game for both teams after the Horns took the opener last night 3-1. A pivotal game for both teams in the series as Texas won with it's ace on the mound in Parker French. Today Rice has it's ace on the hill in Blake Fox, so a win you would think is a must for the Owls or they would be in real danger of Texas dominating the series on their own field.

Clemens will get his first action for the Horns as a pitcher today and gets the start against the undefeated Fox at Recking in Houston. That is a big stage for your first start in D1 baseball.

Going to be other changes in the lineup for this game, so I am off to find who the starters will be for game two of the series and opening game of today's double dip. Back in a few for the game thread.

NBHorn7
(2500+ posts)
02/14/15 11:42 AM
Re: Texas vs. Rice Game 2

Texas starting lineup for today:

B. Johnson-7
C. Shaw-9
C.J. Hinojosa-6
B. Marlow-4
T. Barrera-3
B. Boswell-5
Z. Gurwitz-DH
M. Cantu-2
T. Stell-8
K.Clemens-1


NBHorn7
(2500+ posts)
02/14/15 12:03 PM
Re: Texas vs. Rice Game 2

Johnson leads off for Texas against the lefty Blake Fox for Rice.

Johnson with a clean single up the middle to lead off and get the lead runner on first.

Shaw bats from the left side and plays center.
A passed ball moves Johnson to second.
Shaws gets the sac bunt down and the 1-4 out moves Johnson to third.

Hinojosa up from the right side.
His fly ball to center is good for a rbi SF.

Texas leads 1-0.

Two down for Marlow, the second sacker today.
He grounds a single throught the right side to put another runner on.

Barrera up from the right side playing first today.
He flies out to center to retire the side.

Texas off to the early 1-0 lead as Rice comes to bat.


NBHorn7
(2500+ posts)
02/14/15 12:19 PM
Re: Texas vs. Rice Game 2

Kacy Clemens with his first start at Texas today.

Ryan Chandler leads off and plays center.
He bats lefty and drives a ball into the gap in left center.
The cutoff is misplayed and gets away and it's a doube and an error and Chandler winds up at third.

Stainback bats from the right side and a sqibber to the left of Clemens is fielded and his throw is high and pulls Barrera off the bag for another error to put runner on the corners with no outs.

Byrd the shortstop bats lefty and just like yesterday gets the first Rice rbi with a SF to left.

Game tied 1-1.

One down and one on for John Clay Reeves batting righty
and catching today.
He hits a bomb to left and it's the first homer of the series and year.

Rice leads 3-1.

Clemens off to a shaky start.

Connor Teykl bats lefty and plays first today and he lines one to left and Johnson dives and can't come up with it and it rolls to the wall for a triple.

Gray bats lefty and he lines a single by Marlow for another run.

Rice leads 4-1.

Charlie Warren bats from the left side with one out and one on.

Skip comes out for a conference, but Clemens stays in the game.

He lines a single up the middle to put two on and it's a hitting parade.

The DH Kirby Taylor bats right and singles up the middle to plate another run. The ball is dropped in center and another error should be charged as Taylor goes to second to put runners at second and third.

Rice leads 5-1.

Williamson bats from the left side and grounds out to second to score another run.

Rice leads 6-1.

Chandler back up as Rice bats around and grounds out to second 4-3 to finally end the inning.

Well that was really ugly and after one inning Rice leads 6-1 as they clubbed Clemens.

 

[Bevo1970]

This post was made just before going to the new 2015 platform. Post as normal after these added posts if you wish.

NBHorn7
(2500+ posts)
02/14/15 12:28 PM
Re: Texas vs. Rice Game 2

The ground ball by Stainback was changed to a hit for some reason, It wasn't.

Boswell leads off the Texas second as he is at third.
The lefty batter grounds to first for a 1U first out.

Gurwitz is the DH again today and the righty batter is hit by a pitch on the elbow.

One on and one down Cantu who is catching today.
The big freshman watches Gurwitz get picked off first and the throw to second is a 1-3-6 out number two.

That is just awful as your down five runs and get picked off first.

Naturally Cantu in his first at bat at Texas singles to left.

One on and two down for Taylor Stell bats righty.
He grounds a ball to third and it's booted for a Rice error.

Johnson up again at the top of the order and he lofts a high fly ball to left and it carries just out of the park as the Williamson leaped, but couldn't get it.

Rice leads 6-4.

Shaw up again and he flies out to shallow left to end the inning.

The base running rock costs Texas a run, but the homer by Johnson gets Texas back in it as Rice leads 6-4 to the bottom of two.

Dionysus

(5000+ posts)
02/14/15 12:28 PM

Re: Texas vs. Rice Game 2

Ben Johnson

NBHorn7
(2500+ posts)
02/14/15 12:35 PM
Re: Texas vs. Rice Game 2

Clemens is back out there and he has to be on a short leash now.

Stainback leads off and flies out to left to Johnson.

One away for Byrd and he walks on four pitches.

Reeves up again and his homer got Rice out to a big lead.
He bats righty with one on and one down.

Byrd steals second as the ball was in the dirt and no throw.

Reeves flies out to centter for two away.

Teykl up with a runner at second and two down.
Another fly ball to center retires the side.

Big inning for Clemesn fo have a shut down inning, maybe he can settle down now.

Two event filled innings played and Rice leads 6-4.

NBHorn7
(2500+ posts)
02/14/15 12:45 PM
Re: Texas vs. Rice Game 2

Fox out for the third as he tries to regain his composure.

Hinojosa leads off the third for Texas.
The count runs full and he walks on a pitch that leaks outside.

Marlow with a hit already today and he lays down the sac bunt to send Hinojosa to second.

It's not the way many would play in a game with the pitchers struglling, but it's Augie ball.

Barrera up, a 2-0 count brings out the pitching coach.
Ball four also gets away from the Rice catcher for another passed ball.

Runners on the corners with one down for Boswell.
He slugs a bunt on the right side, the pitcher makes the play 1-3 for the second out as the run scores.

Rice leads 6-5.

Gurwitz bats with the tying run at second and two down.
He pops out to second to retire the side.

Texas adds a run and Rice leads 6-5 to the bottom the third.


NBHorn7
(2500+ posts)
02/14/15 12:53 PM
Re: Texas vs. Rice Game 2

Clemen back out for the third trying to wade through his first start at Texas.

The lefty hitting Gray leads off for Rice.
He lines a shot to right and Shaw goes back and makes the catch for one away.

Warren, another lefty hitter bats with one down.
A full count comes and another hard shot is fielded by Marlow on a slide in the hole and he makes a nice 4-3 second out.

Taylor up with two down and squibs one back to Clemens and the side goes down in order.

Nice inning for Clemens and Rice leads 6-5 after three.

NBHorn7
(2500+ posts)
02/14/15 01:00 PM
Re: Texas vs. Rice Game 2

Fox out again in the fourth for Rice.

Cantu leads off for Texas and he grounds to second for a 4-3 out one.

Stell bats and he pops out foul to the third baseman for a quick two away.

Johnson brings the top of the order back again and he bloops a single to center for his third hit of the game

Johnson could go here to put the tying run in scoring position.

Shaw bats with two away and one on.
Johnson has had a hard time reading Fox so far and is staying put so far.

The pitching coach comes out again for some reason and now goes back to the dugout.

A fly ball to shallow left ends the inning.

Bottom of four comes and Rice leads 6-5.


NBHorn7
(2500+ posts)
02/14/15 01:05 PM
Re: Texas vs. Rice Game 2

Clemens continues on for Texas in the Rice fourth.

Leading off for the Owls is lefty nine hole hitter Williamson.
He waks him on five pitches and you don't like walking anybody, much less the nine hole man.

Chandler, the lead off hitter is up from the left side with one on and no outs.

He singles through the right side and it puts runners at the corners with no outs.

Out comes Skip and he has seen enough from Kacy.

A pitching change is made.

 

[Bevo1970]

This post was made just before going to the new 2015 platform. Post as normal after these added posts if you wish.

NBHorn7
(2500+ posts)
02/14/15 01:17 PM
Re: Texas vs. Rice Game 2

The new Texas hurler is lefty Jon Malmin and he faces Stainback.

He turns around and bats right and a looper just over Marlow is a single.

Rice leads 7-5.

Byrd bats and a pick off at second is thrown into center. The error by Cantu puts runners on second and third and one out.

A shalow fly to center to Stell is two away and the runners have to hold.

Reeves is up again and Hinojosa comes in to talk to Malmin.

The big right hander is trouble for Texas and maybe you put him on.
After one ball, the intentioal walk is beign issued now.

That loads the bases with one out for lefty hitting Teykl.
A big batter in this wild game if Texas wants to stay close.
A blooper to left and again Johnson dives and again he can't make the play. It stays in front of thim this time and he throws to second and Reeves is out on the rare 9-4 force for the second out as the run scores.

Rice leads 8-5.

Grayson Lewis pinch hits for Rice with the bases loaded and two down. He grounds out to third to retire the side.

Rice puts two up and leads now 8-5 after four.

NBHorn7
(2500+ posts)
02/14/15 01:20 PM
Re: Texas vs. Rice Game 2

Fox out again trying to qualify for a possible win.

Hinojosa leads off and grounds out to second for one down.

Marlow up with one away.
A shall fly to center is caught by the shortstop for two down.

Barrera up and a ground ball to third sends Texas down in order.

Halfway home in a much different game than last night.

Rice leads 8-5.

NBHorn7
(2500+ posts)
02/14/15 01:27 PM
Re: Texas vs. Rice Game 2

Malmin continues on in the fifth.

Warren leads off and lines a single to left.

Taylor up and he flies out to Shaw in right for one down.

The nine hole hitter Williams on is up and he slugs a bunt by Malmin and Marlow can't bare hand it and it's an infield single to put two aboard.

Chandler up at the top of the order.
A fly ball to left is battled and caught by Johnson as the wind has become an issue in the game.

Stainback up with two down and two on and he singles to left through the hole and that plates another run.

Rice leads 9-5 as the young pitchers for Texas have struggled today.

Byrd up with two on and two down and he flies out to center to retire the side.

Five played and Rice now leads 9-5.


NBHorn7
(2500+ posts)
02/14/15 01:38 PM
Re: Texas vs. Rice Game 2

Fox stays in for the sixth which is a bit surprising in his first star of the year.

Boswell cues one down the line at third and the third baseman can't make the bare hand attempt and it's a lead infield hit.

One on for Gurwitz still at DH with a bit of a hamstring injury bothering him.
He plunks a fly ball down the left field line that falls in the corner for a double that moves Boswell to third.

Cantu bats with runners at second and third and none away.
A ground ball to second plates a run on the 4-3 put out.

Rice leads 9-6.

Stell bats with Gurwitz at third and one down.
A fly ball to right is a SF to score Gurwitz.

Rice leads 9-7.

Johnson up at the top of the order has had a big day so far with a homer and a couple of singles.
This time he singles to left through the hole for his fourth safety of the day.

Shaw up with one aboard as Fox struggles again,but he lives a charmed life at Rice and they score big when he is off his game.

Graham comes out, he leaves Fox out there.

Shaw grounds out to second to retire the side.

Texas scratches out a couple more runs, but it needs somebody to shut down Rice and clean up the defense to win this one.

Rice leads 9-7 to the bottom of six.

NBHorn7
(2500+ posts)
02/14/15 01:43 PM
Re: Texas vs. Rice Game 2

It's still Malmin out there for Texas, which is a bit surprising to me at least.

Reeves the big power hitter for Rice leads off.
He grounds one deep in the hole that Hinjosa glovesa and a very strong throw to first is a sparkling one down. Really nice play there.

Teykl steps in from the left side with one down.
He K's swinging for two down as the Hinojosa play seemed to fire up Malmin.

Lewis is up from the right side and rifles a single to left.

Warren bats with one on and two away and flies out to center to Stell to retire the side.

Nice inning for Malmin and to the seventh with Rice ahead 9-7.

NBHorn7
(2500+ posts)
02/14/15 01:58 PM
Re: Texas vs. Rice Game 2

Fox is done and the new Rice pitcher is Matt Ditman a right hander.

Hinojosa leads off for the Horns.
He K's swinging on three pitches.

Marlow at the clean up spot bats with one down.
He draws the one out walk.

Barrera up as the tying run with one down.
The wind is blowing out and the new ball could bring some
big hacks from Tres, who won the home run derby in Omaha last year.

The count runs full and a big swing is made, but it sends a liner to left for a single and now the tying runs are on base.

Boswell up with two on and one down.
A fast ball is blown by him and it's a swinging K for two away.

Gurwitz tries to plate somebody with two down and two on.
A blooper to shall right is stabbed by the Stainback the second baseman over the shoulder as he tumbles to the turf. That saved a run and retires the side.

The big play for Rice maintains the 9-7 lead as they stretch at Reckling Park.

NBHorn7
(2500+ posts)
02/14/15 02:07 PM
Re: Texas vs. Rice Game 2

Lefty Kirby Bellow comes in to pitch for the Horns..

Taylor leads off and a fly ball to right center carries to the alley and the wall for a lead double.

The nine hole hitter Williamson, who has been trouble for Texas today stands in lefty with a man at second and no outs.

He lays down the sac bunt and the 2-3 play is one down as the runner goes to third.

Chandler, the lead off man bats with a man third and one down.
The infield comes in to try and cut off the run.
He bunts down the first base line and it hugs the line and Barrera has to pick up and make the 3U second out as the run scores.

Rice leads 10-7.

Stainback bats with two away and nobody on. His defensive gem kept Texas from slicing the lead last inning and he has had a good day at the plate.
He grounds to short and Hinojosa fields and the throw is late and it's the fourth hit for Stainback today and 15 hits now for Rice.

Byrd bats with two down and one on.
He K's swinging to retire the side.

Rice plays add on and leads 10-7 as the game grows long in the tooth and time is running out on Texas after seven played.

 

[Bevo1970]

This post was made just before going to the new 2015 platform. Post as normal after it if you wish.

NBHorn7
(2500+ posts)
02/14/15 02:19 PM
Re: Texas vs. Rice Game 2

Ditman back out on the hill for Rice in the eighth.

Pinch hitter Connor McCalla bat steps in lefty in his first plate trip as a Horn.
It's a productive one as he walks on an outside full count pitch.

Travis Jones comes in to run for him.

Another pinch hitting lefty is Patrick Mathis also with his first plate appearance.
He swings and misses a high fast ball for a K and out one.

The hot hitting Johnson steps in for the Horns with one on and one away. He is 4-4 on the day.
He need more if Texas is to close the gap and make a comeback in this one.
He grounds sharply to third for a 5-4 force as the relay is not in time with Johnon's speed.

Two down and one on now for Shaw.
He sends a fly ball to left center that one hops the wall and Johnson with the good wheels comes around to score on the double.

Rice leads 10-8.

Hinojosa up as the tying run now with one one and two away.
C.J. is struggling at the plate and needs this cutch hit for Texas and him.

Kopycisnski is catching now by the way.

Hinojosa is way off stride again and K's swinging to retire the side.

Texas gets one back, but needed more as Rice leads 10-8 to the bottom of the eighth.

NBHorn7
(2500+ posts)
02/14/15 02:24 PM
Re: Texas vs. Rice Game 2

Bellow remains in the game for Texas and needs a clean inning to give Texas a shot in the ninth.

Kopycinski, who came into to catch leads off.
A one hop comebacker to Bellow is a 1-3 out one.

Mathis is playing right now.

Teykl up and he grounds out to second for two away.

Lewis up with two down and he also goes down 4-3 to retire the side in order.

Texas comes up needing to two to tie as the ninth inning is here. Rice leads 10-8.


NBHorn7
(2500+ posts)
02/14/15 02:37 PM
Re: Texas vs. Rice Game 2

Ditman stays on lookig for the save.

Marlow leads off the Texas ninth.
He K's swinging at an overhand curve in the dirt for one away.

Barrera bats with one down.
He walks on four pitches.

Boswell bats with one down as the tying run.
He doubles to the gap in left center and Barrera scores.

Rice leads 10-9.

Gurwitz bats with one down and the tying run at second.
The DH needs do just that and get Texas tied at least.
He swings at a ball that one hopped the catcher for a swinging K and two away.

It's all up to Jones the freshman, who has struggles at the plate so far and I really thought Augie would pinch hit for him with a lefty hitterl.

He K's swinging to end the game and Rice wins 10-9 in a pretty ugly game. Kind of a head scratcher with Jones, thought sure a lefty pinch hitter would take his place.

Tough loss as the the series and the the team records even at 1-1.

Will wrap this one up in a minute.

NBHorn7
(2500+ posts)
02/14/15 02:50 PM
Re: Texas vs. Rice Game 2

As I mentioned it was an ugly game with mistakes and pitfchers struggling.

Clemens which still an experiment with the starting rotation had no command of his fast ball today and the Rice hitters sat on his breaking stuff and mashed it.

Malmin struggled some too and Rice padded the lead. Bellow pitched ok in the eighth and ninth.

Texas lost by one run also as another bad base running mistake happens in the second inning down by five runs you have a runner picked off first.

Johnson went on to hit a three run bomb in that inning.

It was just the kind of mistakes that cost Texas games last season, but we all know how that turned around later on.

The pitching will be fine as Skip finds out who can do what and settles in with the rotation and relievers.

The offense is still the question that will have to be answered. Texas batters still swing at way too many bad pitches and strike far too many times just like last season.

Rice didn't play that well either, but made enough plays to get the win. Fox struggled too and is living a charmed life against Texas to not be charged with a loss in his last two starts against the Horns.

Heck, even I struggled today as the video didn't come up in the first inning and then the batteries in my wireless mouse went out. With this wild game I was trying to catch up all game it seemed. The Rice announcer on the broadcast is no help as he is pretty clueless in keeping viewers informed as to game action. He seems more interested in Rice stuff and other non game going ons. It's scary that he is leaving to do basketball and the second string announcer is doing game two. Who knows maybe he will be better.

Let's all try to regroup and take the night cap of the DH. It's now a big game three in the series.