Game two of the series has Kacy Clemens on the mound for Texas. The Horns look to bounce back from a very frustrating game where they left 14 men on base and struck 13 times in a 5-4 loss. They left the bases loaded three times including the top of the ninth. This has happened before in the losses and the Texas batting order needs to be more disciplined and either take the walk or at least put the ball in play. Stanford like Rice did in the opening series gave the Horns several chances with walks and errors to win last night and it just didn't happen. So tonight is a big game in the series as falling behind 2-0 would be tough to overcome on the road. So going to get the line ups now.
Texas will start with this lineup: Johnson-LF Shaw-RF Hinojosa-SS Barrera-1B Marlow-2B Boswell-3B Cantu-C Gurwitz-CF Stell-DH Clemens-RHP
The Stanford lineup: Edman-2B Branton-SS Winaker-1B Dunlap-LF Diekroger-3B Locher-CF Weisenberg-DH Brodey-RF Carter-C Viall-RHP
Large right hander Chris Viall stands 6' 9" and starts on the hill for Stanford. Johnson of the red hot bat leads off for the Horns as we get underway in game two. As we said get the ball in play and a ground ball to short is booted for an E-6 and Ben reaches. Shaw bats lefty with one on. Shaw tries to bunt for the sac and can't get it down and he grounds off the mound to second for a 4-6-3 double play. It looked like it would get through, but the mound slowed it down. Hinojosa up from the right side with two outs. His ground ball does get up the middle and through for the first hit of the game. Shaw's ball hitting the mound is a big play now. Barrera bats righty with two down and one on. He flies to center to retire the side. The double play helps keep the Horns off the board and Stanford comes to bat.
Kacy Clemens gets the start for Texas on the hill in tonight's game. Tommy Edman, the second baseman leads off from the left side for the Cardinal. A ground ball to first for a 3U is one down. The shortstop Branton is up from the right side with one away. He K's as he can't hold on a check swing for two gone. Winaker plays first and bats lefty with two outs. He grounds one through the hole on the right side to right field for a single. The left fielder from the Woodlands, Texas is Dunlap batting right handed with one on and two gone. A liner to center is right to Gurwitz to retire the side. Both teams with traffic, but neither scores in the first.
Wooooooohoooooooooo! FWIW, full moon in Palo Alton tonight. Don't want to get ahead of the fine game track by NBHorn but you will like his next post.
Viall back to the mound in the second for the Cardinal. Marlow step in the left handed batter's box to start the second for Texas. Another grounder up the middle goes through for a lead single. Boswell bats also from the left side with one on. He doesn't bunt and a ground ball to third and it should have been a DP, but it's just a 5-4 force as the relay was wide of first and Boswell is on. Cantu bats righty with one on and one gone. He nubs one back to the mound and he misplays it into another error to put two on. Stanford has not been real slick in the field in this series. That's why Texas needs to cut down on the K's. Gurwitz up righty with two on and one down. He swings through an inside fast ball for another of those K's. Stell is again the DH, he bats righty with two on and two down. He rips one to left on a line and it clears the left field fence for a three run homer! Texas leads 3-0 as all the runs are unearned, again it's why Texas needs to keep putting the ball in play Johnson up with two down. He pops out to second to end the frame. Stell with the big clutch hit and Texas leads 3-0 to the bottom of two.
Clemens returns to the hill with the lead for the first time. Leading off for Stanford is Mikey Diekroger, the third baseman. The righty hitter walks on four pitches to put a man on. The center fielder Locher bats from the right side with one on. He lines a screamer down the right field line into the corner for a double. Runners on second and third for Barr, the DH and no outs as Stanford looks to answer the Horns big inning. A 2-0 count brings Skip to the mound as Clemens has lost command. Back he goes to the dugout. He walks on four pitches also to load the bases and it full blown jam now. Brody, the left fielder bats lefty with the bases loaded and no outs. A slow roller to short and Hinojosa charges but the throw is late and the run scores. Texas leads 3-1. Carter bats with the bases loaded and nobody out. He grounds to short and it's a 6-4 force for one out as the run scores. Texas leads 3-2. Edman, the lead off hitter bats with runners on the corners and one out. He grounds to short for a 6-4-3 double play as Texas gets out of the inning. Stanford does answer and Texas leads 3-2 after two.
Viall back out for the third. Shaw leads off for the Horns. A high pop to short is one away. Hinojosa up with one down. He walks on four pitches to put him at first. Barrera up with one on and one down. A pick off attempt is yet another Stanford error as the throw is high and gets away. C.J. moves up to second. A high fast ball and a snap throw picks Hinojosa off second for two away. That hurts as a base running rock negates the error. A one hopper to third goes 5-3 to retire the side. Texas leads 3-2 to the bottom of the third.
Clemens back to the mound for the third, needing a quick inning. Leading of for the Cardinal is Branton from the right side. A ground ball to third and Boswell's throw is wide, but Barrera gets the tag for one down. Winaker up with one away. He sends a long fly ball to right and Shaw back, back, and back and dives and makes the great catch! All we could see was him diving as he left the camera's view. Two down for Dunlap and he sends a deep fly ball to left and Johnson is there and drops it. It's a three base error on Ben. Diekroger up from the left side with two down and the tying run on third. A high foul pop and Boswell staggers, but makes the catch to end the inning. It was an adventure, but Texas still leads 3-2 after three played.
Hope we settle down. Hate sloppy games, with walks, errors and pick offs. Stanford is helping us, so we need to take advantage. Let's do it.
Viall will continue on for Stanford as the Texas fourth commences. Marlow leads off for the Horns from the left side. A pop up to short is one down and the ball is moving around on the these high pops. One down for Boswell with the bases clean. A ground ball in the hole on the right side and Edman the second baseman makes the diving stop and then rights the ship to throw Boswell out for a nice play and two outs. Cantu up with two down. Yes it's Cantu, despite the clueless Stanford announcer calling him Gurwitz. He singles sharply to left to reach. Now Gurwitz bats with two down and one on. He walks to put two on. Stell bats again with two outs and two on and looks for more rbi's after his three run dinger in his last at bat. A high fly ball to center will strand a couple of more as the side goes down. Bottom of four and Texas ahead 3-2.
Clemens back to the hill for the Horns in the Stanford fourth. Locher leads off for the Cardinal. The right handed batter skies one to left and Johnson this time squeezes it for one away. Barr who became the DH after Weisenberg was listed as the starter. He gets plunked by a fast ball and he reaches. Brody bats lefty withe one down and one on. He flies to center for the second out. The Cardinal catcher Carter, bats with two down and one on. The nine hole hitter bats righty. Barr moves up on a wild pitch in the dirt gets by Cantu. Strangely the nine hole hitter swings on 3-0 and flies out to center to end the inning. Thank you very much. Texas leads 3-2 after four gone.
Viall still around as the fifth begins. He faces the top of the order in Johnson. Ben gets in the right handed side of the box. He is hitless so far after his big game last night. A ground ball to first goes 3-1 to record the first out. Shaw steps in lefty with one down. He is rung up on what looked like an inside pitch for two gone. He was not happy with the call. Hinojosa bats with two away. A high pop in front of the plate is caught by the catcher to retire the side in order. Down go the Horns quickly and halfway through the second game of the series Texas leads 3-2.
Clemens tries to qualify for a win in the Stanford fifth. The top of the order is back up in Edman, from the left side. Another fly ball is lifted to center to Gurwitz for one away. Branton up with one down batting righty. Another fly ball, this time to right drifts foul, but Shaw has it for two away. Winaker up with two down and yet another fly ball to left and all the outfielders make a play as Johnson has it to end the inning. Clemens does qualify for a win if the lead holds up as he gets them in order. Five played and Texas still leads 3-2.
Viall still hurls in the sixth as the game has settled down some. Barrera leads off for the Horns. The powerful hitting right hander sends one up the middle into center for a single. Marlow up with one on. He bunts and Carter gets out quickly and under hands a throw to first to just nip Marlow. It's a 2-3 sac as Tres goes to second. Boswell up with a man in scoring position and one down. Really need this run to get some cushion. A ground ball to short and the 6-3 out is made as Barrera moves to third. Up to Cantu if Texas is to score with two outs and Barrera at third. The count runs full and a low fast ball is ball four. Two on and two down for Gurwitz as the Horns still look to play add on and they really need to. A liner to left center and the center fielder cuts right in front of the left fielder to make the play. That was dangerous, but the side is retired. Texas threatens, but that is all and leads 3-2 to the bottom of six.
Clemens stays on for the sixth, but I bet the bullpen is up. Dunlap, the Texas native leads off from the right side. A big hook is looked on for a called strike three for one down. Diekroger up and the first pitch hits him on the foot and he reaches. Skip out quickly and I thought the pen was up and that is all for Kacy. Good outing for Clemens. Pitching change.
Lefty Kirby Bellow is on to pitch for the Horns. He faces Locher as his first hitter from the right side with one down and one on. A slow roller to third and Boswell charges and makes the 5-3 play for two down as the runner goes to second. Barr bats right handed, as the DH has the tying run at second and two gone. He singles by Marlow and into right field and the run scores. Game tied 3-3 and Clemens gets no decision now. Brody bats with two down and one on. He sends one down the line in right and it's called fair and it's to the wall and the run scores and it's a double and he goes to third on the throw toward home. Stanford leads 4-3. Augie is out to question the ball called fair. He goes to the first base umpire and now to the home plate ump. It was a late call, but no way to tell with the camera angle we have. Augie finally leaves. Carter bats with a man on third and two down. He swings through a fast ball and the 2-3 put out records the K to retire the side. But the damage is done as Stanford takes the lead 4-3 after six.
Vaill is still pitching as the seventh starts. He has struggled, but keeps getting out of jams. Stell leads off and sends a fly ball to right for one away. Johnson is back up at the top of the Horn order. He sends another fly ball to right and it's run down for two quick outs. Shaw up with two gone. The count runs full as Vaill is over 100 pitches now. A sharp single to right puts him on. Hinojosa up and it's time to get the running game going with Shaw. Texas needs to get something going. Not needed now as Hinojosa is nicked by a pitch to put two on. That is going to end Viall's night, but he hung in there and can still get the win. Pitching change.
The new Stanford pitcher is right hander is Dan Stalwart. Barrera is his first batter and once again Texas has a chance to do some damage. A pitch outside goes off the glove of the catcher for a passed ball and the runners advance. Tres could give the Horns the lead. Another pitch gets away and Shaw comes down the line and then goes back and Hinojosa is now caught off second and the throw goes back to third to get Shaw on a 2-4-5 out to retire the side. More bad base running and it keeps Texas down 4-3 as they stretch in Palo Alto.
Bellow is still in the seventh. Edman at the top of the order is out on a grounder to third. Branton bats with one away. He K's swinging and the 2-3 put out is two away. Winaker bats with two away from the left side. He K's swinging also on an outside fast ball to retire the side. Bellows settles down and gets them in order. Seven gone and Stanford leads 4-3.
