UCLA Losing Streak Hits 10 After Being Swept By Oklahoma
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Mar 9, 2009 12:00 PM PDT
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PrintThe struggles continue for UCLA after being swept by #16 Oklahoma and seeing their losing streak hit 10. The Bruins lost the first two games of the series by one run, dropping their record in one run games this year to 0-6. Now 2-10 on the season, the Bruins face a steep uphill climb to make a regional for the fourth consecutive year.
The series opener started off right when the Bruins got a run in the first. With two out Casey Haerther doubled to right center and two batters later Gabe Cohen singled up the middle to score him and the Bruins were ahead. In the fourth, the Bruins would strike again. Chris Giovinazzo was hit by a pitch to start the inning and after moving to second, scored on a single by Eddie Murray. UCLA looked primed to snap their losing streak, but yet again, they were burned by a big inning. In the sixth inning, Oklahoma led off with a home run and a walk. That ended starting pitcher Rob Rasmussen's day and Jason Novak came in. Novak allowed two bloop singles to begin his outing and the bases were loaded with nobody out. The next pitch found its way to the backstop, allowing a run to score and tie the game 2-2. That closed the book on Rasmussen who gave up two runs in five innings. It did not close the book on the inning though. The next Sooner bunted for a hit, giving Oklahoma a 3-2 lead and putting two on. After a strikeout, the Sooners broke the game open with a three run home run. A six run sixth inning turned a 2-0 UCLA lead into a 6-2 Sooner lead. The Bruins tried to make a comeback when Cody Decker hit a two run homer in the seventh and Gino Aielli hit a solo shot in the eighth, but that's all they managed and the Bruins lost 6-5.
Charles Brewer took the hill for the Bruins and gave them a solid outing. The junior struck out eight and gave up three runs in 6.1 innings, but exited the game down 3-1 as the only offense the Bruins could muster was a RBI double by Justin Uribe. The Bruins put together a rally in the eighth though. Decker singled and Cohen walked to lead off the inning. Both advanced 90 feet on a passed ball and Uribe notched his second and third RBI of the game when he singled both home to tie the game 3-3. Niko Gallego laid down a sacrifice bunt next, but an error by the Sooners allowed him to reach second and Uribe to take third. Tyler Rahmatulla grounded out next to plate Uribe and UCLA was up 4-3 with a runner on third. Next, Murray doubled to score Gallego, then came home himself when Blair Dunalp singled. In all, the Bruins picked up five runs on four hits in the inning and were ahead 6-3. The lead wouldn't last long though as Novak continued to struggle, allowing two in the eighth. After the two scored, Brendan Lafferty, who had a ERA under 0.80 entering the game, came in and allowed two more runs. All of a sudden, UCLA was behind again, 7-6. Trevor Bauer was able to get the Bruins out of the inning, but the damage was done and after going quietly in the ninth, UCLA lost 7-6.
Sunday's game got off to a rough start for Gerrit Cole. The freshman righty who was pushed back to Sunday in hopes of giving his blisters an extra day to heal never found a groove. He gave up two runs in the first, two more in the second, then two more unearned runs in the third. In all, Cole pitched three innings, gave up six runs, four earned on nine hits and struck out three. When Gavin Brooks took to the hill to begin the fourth inning in place of Cole, the Bruins trailed 6-1 as a Murray RBI double was all the Bruins had to show. UCLA did try to make a comeback when they scored one run in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings, but within two was as close as they'd get. The Bruins fell 6-4 to the Sooners in the series finale, they tenth consecutive loss, but if they could take anything away from Sunday's loss it was the pitching of Brooks. The junior who had a ERA over 30 entering the game and was seemingly a lost cause came in for Cole and threw five hitless, shutout innings. Only two reached base on the southpaw, both by walk and he struck out five.
The Bruins will return home and get ready for a tough five game week. UCLA will welcome UC Santa Barbara to Jackie Robinson Stadium on Tuesday, then San Diego St. will visit on Wednesday. The Bruins are running out of time to begin a run if they want to make a regional and may be out of luck if they'd like to get an at-large bid. The Bruins will likely need to win the Pac 10 conference to make the postseason. The amount of wins necessary to get back in the at-large discussion would likely be enough to win the Pac 10 anyways so the Bruins will likely focus their eyes on the conference title at this point. Before they even think about that though, they need to get a win, any win.
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Your passion bucket is overflowing Rye
Your thoroughness, zeal and passion come through read after read. In fact after one of your reads, I walk away feeling like I had actually gone to the game. In fact, I have no doubt that if I matched notes (your notes) with someone who actually went, I would have a better recall due to your incredible cheat notes! Great work.
But I really feel for the team that with the new coaching changes and the preseason hype and expectations that have followed, only to end up shooting themselves in the foot, game after game is hard. The funny thing is, is that while all of this is happening and the losing streak is hitting 10, that I actually and honestly believe that all of the pieces are actually falling into place, that being the players and coaches that are now a part of the Bruin family. To help take the program, into the post season annually, a la CSUF, and yet here we are doing it to ourselves. All I can say is that I don’t want to be in the opposing dugout when we finally do get out of our way, and start playing up to our abilities! But until then, keeping working hard and good things will happen. Here’s to you Rye and all of the Bruin baseball players, coaches and faithful.
Question for Rye
Rye,
What is, in your opinion, the cause of the slide? I can read the description of the action, but what is causing the issues? Lack of talent, experience, coaching errors either tactical or strategic, luck of the draw?
Bill
BillSouthBay
It's a little bit of everything, except for lack of talent
They’re making defensive mistakes. In their three games in Houston they gave up nine unearned runs. There have been some questionable coaching decisions, but none so egregious that they can be blamed outright for the loss of a game. There’s been some bad timing, like Brendan Lafferty, who had given up one run all year, giving up two when the Bruins were ahead by one. There’s been a lot of bad luck too. In Oklahoma’s six run inning, they had two bloop hits that a fourth grader could have hit harder. Throw all of that together with a really tough schedule and this is what you get.
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Mar 9, 2009 3:26 PM PDT up reply actions
Crucial time for team
This is a time, IMO, when they can take the learned lessons and move to the next level…. Young teams can surprise people, if the coaches keep them focused and in a learning mode. Thanks.
Bill
BillSouthBay
Changes are a comin'
Garret Claypool will get the start versus UC Santa Barbara. I love this move and have been hoping that he would get his chance to start again. He started as a freshman and was a Freshman All-American, but moved to the bullpen last year and has been a reliever this year. As a reliever he’s been okay, but not nearly as good as he was starting.
On Wednesday versus San Diego St., Trevor Bauer will start. Bauer has served as the closer this year, but came to UCLA as a starter and will be a starter next year. Due to the struggles of our midweek starters so far this year, he’s going to be a little ahead of schedule and will get the nod this week. Even as a midweek starter, Bauer will be available out of the bullpen over the weekend.
I’ve also heard a couple other things will be changed up, but I’m skeptical about how much of them will actually be put into action so I’ll wait before I comment on them.
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Mar 9, 2009 11:57 PM PDT reply actions
Recruiting transition exposed ?
I wonder if the recruit quality is showing.
The Pitching quality and recruiting has improved and is managed by Savage exclusively.
Position player recruiting is a different story.
Pat Shine’s recruits left this past year. Carrithers, Crawford, Curtis, Babineau, . Some fine players.
Brian Green’s recruits are now emerging as starters……Gallego, Rahmatulla, et al.
Any difference is quality and production. What do you see?
Expect some changes with Vanderhook.
Keep in mind that Shine's recruits underachieved last year
but they were fantastic and Green’s recruits, well the jury is still out on them. It’s still too early to tell, but I am keeping an eye on that. Expect a different type of player to come in under Hooky.
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Mar 10, 2009 1:56 PM PDT up reply actions
Recruiting transitions exposed?
Pitching recruiting, directed by Savage has improved with time.
Position players is another story.
Pat Shine’s recruits have departed. Curtis, Carrithers, Crawford, Babineau et al.
Brian Green’s recruits now emerging in starting roles. Gallego, Rahmatulla, et al.
What do you see? Theory hold water ?
The losing streak is over
UCLA beat UCSB 5-3
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Mar 10, 2009 9:20 PM PDT reply actions
It's interesting
If Green’s recruiting was sub par, I’m not certain it was or not, although I’m suspicious…….. the effects are felt for another season or so.
Big impacts.
I think if Bruins had Vanderhook last year, the Bruins were in CWS. That was a fine roster that underperformed with too much coaching intervention.
You gotta let the game develop before trading chips. Way overcoached. Let em play.
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