Second game of the series and another must win for the Horns. Texas needs to win this series, to give the team hope for the rest of the regular season. I think we have talked this to death, so let's just see what happens. This game is being televised on several of the Fox Sports stations, have to check your guide for Dish, Direct, or whatever carrier you use. The audio is as always on texassports.com. FOX Sports Plus Channel Guide.pdf Time to go in search of line-ups.
Looks like Augie read car54's post from the Game 1 thread before creating today's line-up. He didn't put Baker at 2B, though, which I thought was his natural position.
Texas Tech gives the ball to Steven Gingery, a freshman left hander with a 3-1 record, an era of 2.87. The wind is today is more like west Texas, howling out to left field at 20-30 mph. A fly ball in that direction will get out in a hurry. Ground balls will be a pitcher's best friend today. Travis Jones will lead off for the Horns, in his new role as the DH, batting right handed. He lines the first pitch to right field for a lead single. Kody Clemens, bats lefty, with a man on and plays third base. He bunts and the sac goes 1-4, for one down. The Horn catcher is Tres Barrera, batting righty, with a man on and one away. He walks on four pitches, to put two aboard. Kacy Clemens bats lefty, with two on and one down, the first baseman. A wild pitch will move the runners up. A ground ball or fly ball scores a run now, need contact. The count runs full and a big early pitch comes. He walks to load the bases. This brings the shortstop, in Joe Baker, to the plate, with the bases full and one out. A shallow fly to right field and that wont get anybody home, two away. A big at bat now for Patrick Mathis, the right fielder, with the bases loaded and two gone. You need to score here or you get off to bad start and pump up Tech. He walks and that forces in a run. Texas leads 1-0. Zane Gurwitz bats righty, as the second baseman, bases loaded, two outs. The centerfielder could give the Horns a shot in the arm, with a clutch hit. A full count and the merry-go-round will start as the runners go and a big pitch here. He K's on an outside curve ball swinging, that end the threat. Texas gets one and leads 1-0, as Tech comes to bat.
Ty Culbreth, the left with the most wins in the Big 12 this season, will start for Texas. Leading off for Tech is Stephen Smith, the right fielder, batting righty. A fly ball to left and it's one away, not hit well. Orlando Garcia bats righty, with an out, the Tech shortstop. He K's swinging on a fast ball, the foul tip held by Barrera, two away. Lefty hitter is Tanner Gardner, the centerfielder. He lines one to right and Mathis dives and can't get it, it gives Gardner a triple. You can't dive for that ball, he wasn't close to it. Cory Raley bats righty, with a man on third, two outs. The Tech DH works a full count and he walks to put two on. First baseman is Eric Gutierrez, two on and two outs. Runner goes and steals second without a throw. Another full count and he walks to load the bases. The left fielder is Tyler Nesloney, batting lefty, the bases loaded and two down. He lines to McKenzie at second and that retires the side. Threat averted and Texas leads 1-0, after one.
Gingery returns to the mound in the second. Ty Rand leads off batting righty, playing left field, for Texas. A shallow pop to left center, is one away. Bottom of the order is Jake McKenzie, playing second today, batting righty, with an out. Another full count and he K's swinging on the change up, two gone. Jones up again, the top of the order, with two down, batting righy. He singled his first trip. A pop in foul ground and the first baseman his it, the side down in order. Bottom of two and Texas leads 1-0.
Culbreth back to the hill in the second, for the Horns. Tech leads off with their third baseman Hunter Hargrove, batting right handed. A fly ball of the end of the bat to right and it's one away. Michael Davis, the second baseman bats lefty, with one out. He K's swinging on the big hook, two down. The catcher is Colton Sanchez, batting righty with two outs. Another fly ball to right will retire the side in order. Two played and Texas leads 1-0.
Gingerly comes back for the third, Tech. Kody Clemens leads off, batting lefty, for the Longhorns. Fly ball to right center and it's one away. Righty hitter is Barrera, with an out. He lines a single to left, for a runner. Kacy Clemens bats lefty, runner aboard and one away. He takes a curve down the middle, for K, two gone. Baker bats righty, with a man on and two down. Grounder to short and the 6-3 is out three. Bottom of the third and Texas leads 1-0.
Culbreth back to the bump, in the Tech third. He faces the top of the order in Smith, batting righty, leading off. Another full count and he walks on a high fast ball, a lead runner. Garcia bats righty, with one on. A liner to right will fall, to put two on. Lefty hitter is Gardner, with two on. He bunts and the sac goes 1-3, runners move up. One down and two on for Raley, batting righty. Infield in at the corners. A fly ball to right is a SF, runner tags and goes to third and a run scores. Game tied at 1-1. Gutierrez bats righty, with a man on and two gone. He walks to put two aboard. Lefty hitter is Nesloney, with runners on the corners, two outs. A flair to right and it drops, the wind knocked it down, run scores. Tech leads 2-1. Hargrove bats righty, with two on and two down. A liner to right and it's a single, another run scores. Tech leads 3-1. Righty hitting Davis bats with two on and still two outs. Chopper to third goes 5U and that ends the inning. Tech gets three across and takes the lead 3-1, after three.
Gingerly pitches the fourth with the lead for the first time. Texas lead off with Mathis, batting from the left side. Yet another full count pitch and he K's looking on a slow change, one down. Gurwitz bats righty, with one out. Two hopper to short and a stretch toward the plate by the first baseman completes the 6-3 second out. Rand bats righty, with two down. He grounds one off of Gingerly and it's an infield hit, for a runner. Bottom of the order is McKenzie, batting righty, with a man on and two outs. Grounder by the bag at third and the 5-3 will end the frame. Bottom of the fourth and Tech leads 3-1.
Culbreth out for his fourth inning of work. Red Raiders lead off with the catcher, Kholteton Sanchez, batting righty. He swings through a heater and the K is one down. Top of the order is Smith, batting righty, one out. A high fly ball to left and that is gone with or without the wind, a long homer. Tech leads 4-1. Garcia bats righty, with a run in. A liner to right is two down. Lefty hitter is Gardner, with an out. A high pop on the right side of the infield and McKenzie has it, side down. Tech adds a run, on the homer and lead now 4-1, after four played.
Gingerly will stay and pitch the fifth, he looks to become the pitcher of record, for Tech. Horns lead off with Jones, at the top of the order. A liner to second is one out. Kody Clemens bats with one away, from the left side. He takes a fast ball off the small of the back, for a runner. Righty hitting Barrera up, with a man on and one out. A wild pitch sends the runner to second. A liner over third and it goes down the line, for a double, the run scores. Tech leads 4-2. Kacy Clemens bats lefty, with a man on, still one down. Pitching coach out to get the bullpen some time, he returns to the dugout. Another wild pitch and Barrera to third. A fly ball to the edge of the track in left, the SF scores another run. Tech leads 4-3. Tadlock has seen enough of Gingerly, pitching change.
Tech brings in Ryan Mosely, a right hander, with a 4-2 record. Like Gingerly he can struggle with command. Baker will face him, with two outs, batting righty. A comebacker and the 1-3, will end the inning. Texas plates two and Tech now leads 4-3, halfway through game two of the three game set.
This is the exact position lineup we used to start the season....DH is the only difference. I had suggested we go back to our original lineup to start Big XII play. Perhaps this lineup will work out. Unfortunately, Skip's pitching staff is in total disarray. Perhaps they can get some confidence back before the Big XII Tournament. Sad to see such a promising staff not performing well. But we can only hope...at this point.
Culbreth continues on, as the Tech fifth starts. Red Raiders lead off with Raley, batting righty. He bunts and it goes toward Clemens at third, but no play, infield hit and a lead runner. Gutierrez bats righty, with a man on. High fly ball to left, but dies and it's one away. Wind has died down, blowing more across from right to left. Lefty hitter is Nesloney, with one on and one away. Runner goes and beats the throw, stolen base. A liner to Clemens is two down. Hargrove bats righty, with one on and two away. Hopper to second goes 4-3 to end the inning. Tech leads 4-3, after five.
Mosely stays on and will pitch the sixth. Mathis leads off, batting lefty. He lines a single up the middle. Gurwitz bats righty, with a man on. He bunts and the sac goes 3-4, one away. Righty hitting Rand up, with one out, a man on second. Little comebacker is a 1-3 second out. McKenzie bats righty, at the bottom of the order, with two gone and one on. Grounder up the middle and the second baseman has it and the 4-3 will end the frame. Bottom of the sixth, Tech leads 4-3.
Culbreth returns for the sixth, for Texas. Leading off for the Red Raiders is Davis, batting lefty. High fly to left is one gone. Sanchez bats righty, with an out. A full count and he swings through a fast ball, the K is two down. Top of the order again is Smith, batting righty. Two hopper to third and the 5-3 will retire the side in order. Tech still leading 4-3, after six innings.
Mosley back for another inning in the seventh, for Tech. Top of the Horn order is Jones, batting righty. Ground up the middle and the second baseman has it but, throws low and away to first, it's an infield hit, a lead runner. Kody Clemens bats lefty, with a man on. He bunts too hard to first and the 3-6 force is an out, the relay late at first. One down and one on for Barrera, batting righty, with an out. He takes a fast ball down the heart of the plate, the called K is two gone. Kacy Clemens bats lefty, with a man on and two outs. A grounder hit slowly wide of the bag and the pitcher is late covering, Clemens beats the first baseman to the bag, by an eyelash, an infield hit. This gives Baker a shot to tie the game, batting righty, with two outs and two aboard. A slow roller to short and the shortstop charges and throws just late, another infield hit. Mathis bats lefty, the bases loaded, two gone. This is a chance to take the lead. A liner to left center and two runs score. Texas takes the lead 5-4, finally some good fortune shines on the Horns. Two on and two outs for Gurwitz, batting righty, Mathis moved to second on the throw over the cutoff man. A chopper throught he right side will plate another run. Texas leads 6-4. Rand bats righty, with two on and two outs. A foul pop on the right side will end the inning. Texas plates three more and takes the lead 6-4, at the stretch point in the game.
Right hander Nolan Kingham will come in and pitch the seventh for the Horns, Culbreth did ok under the circumstances. Tech leads off with righty hitter Garcia. A grounder to first goes 3-1, one down. Davis bats lefty, with one out. A little liner to left is two down. Righty hitter is Raley, with two gone. A full count and looper in front of Clemens at first, he fields it on a hop and takes it to the bag, the 3U retires the side in order. Texas leads 6-4, after seven gone.
Tech brings in Ty Harpenau, a right hander, with a 1-0 record. Texas leads off with McKenzie, batting righty, the bottom of the order. A ball flied out to left is one down. Top of the order is Jones, batting righty, with an out. He K's swinging on the big overhand curve, two down. Two outs for lefty hitting Kody Clemens. A full count and he K's swinging on a pitch in the dirt, the 2-3 completes the play, the side down in order. Bottom of eight and Texas leads 6-4.
Kingham will come out again for the eighth. Tech leads off it's eighth frame with righty hitter Gutierrez. One hopper back to Kingham, the 1-3 is one away. Lefty hitting Nesloney bats, with an out. Ground ball to second goes 4-3, two gone. Hargrove bats righty, with two outs. A full count and a fly ball to center will retire the side in order again by Kingham. To the ninth and Texas leads 6-4.
Harpenau is back to work the ninth for Tech. Leading off for the Horns is Barrera, batting righty. He is plunked on the helmet, by a high inside fast ball, for a lead runner. Trainer out and it appears he is ok. Kacy Clemens bats lefty, with a man on. He doesn't bunt and lines a single up the middle, two on. Baker up batting righty, with two on. I bet he bunts and he squares and pops it right back to the pitcher, one down on the 1U. Coach out and he wants a pitching change.
The new pitcher is a lefty in Parker Mushinski. I was more than a bit surprised they didn't bring in this guy to face Mathis, in the seventh, with the bases loaded. He faces Mathis now, with two on and one down. A fly ball to left center is two away. I bet they wish they had brought him in against Mathis earlier now. Gurwitz bats righty, with two on and two gone. He slices a fly ball to right and it one hops the fence, one run scores, but the second runner is gunned down at the plate on the 9-4-3, to end the inning. Texas adds an insurance run and leads 7-4, bottom of the ninth.
Our closers have given up 30 runs in the 9h innings thus far this year. Let's "close" the chapter on that stat, Horns! Hook'Em!!!
Fantastic pitching by Kingham.....Great win...... We break Tech's 11-game conference win-streak. Hook'Em!!!! One more tomorrow, and let's take the series.....
Kingham comes back for the ninth, why not he hasn't allowed a runner yet. Davis leads off for Tech batting righty. A grounder to second almost got away from McKenzie, but the 4-3 is out one. A pinch hitter is Anthony Lyons, batting lefty, with an out. Another grounder to second and another 4-3 out is two away. Suddenly the last hope for Tech is Smith, the top of the order, with two gone. He is hit in the waist, by a fast ball, to put his first runner on. Two outs and one on for righty hitter Garcia. He flies to left and that ends the game. Texas wins 7-4 to even the series at 1-1, great job by Kingham, would love to know if they were throwing at Smith or not. Back after the post game.
