Oakland at Kentucky (Sunday edition)

[Comebakatz3]

Oakland gets a leadoff single to center before Lewis gives up a two run home run to left field on a 3-2 count. It actually went off the foul pole to stay fair. Jackson now up for Oakland and he grounds one to short where Dawson barehands it and throws him out at first. Excellent play, even made Gabriel sit up in his seat. Lewis then takes one on his own and gets the 11th strikeout of the game, this one of the backwards K type. Lewis is approaching 100 pitches now, I believe he is at 99. Belanger makes a quick visit, but doesn't even bring in the infield. This should be Lewis' inning. Lewis hits pitch 100 and it is a ground out to Becker to end the inning. I imagine that his day is done after throwing 100.

So, not a great inning there for Lewis as he gives up a home run, but they do respond to keep the damage minimal and we're going to the bottom of the 6th up 10-4.

 

[Old_Red]

That's four earned runs for Lewis on the day. Kind of surprising given how he pitched last weekend.

 

[Jeff Drummond]

Becker RBI double extends UK lead to 11-4, B6.

 

[Old_Red]

My video is now freezing. I can see one frame of video each refresh but it never plays. I guess I wasn't intended to hear or see this game.

 

[Jeff Drummond]

Cottam RBI single and Johnson two-run double makes it 14-4, B6.

 

[Comebakatz3]

Dawson now up in the bottom of the 6th and he looks at four very bad pitches to take a leadoff walk. Gabriel points out that UK has walked 10 times today. That is to go with the 9 hits. Squires hits into a tailor made 6-4-3 double play for the first and second outs of the UK 6th. Aklinski also walks and he steals second a few pitches later. Becker is a doubles machine. I think that is his 6th of the season and this one is down the right field line and it scores Aklinski to put UK up 11-4. Collette looks at 3 straight balls before drawing a full count walk to put runners on second and first with two outs. Cottam singles through the right side and it scores Becker from second to put UK up 12-4. Great day for number 13. Johnson with a stand up double to center plates two more. UK up 14-4. New pitcher now. Johnson is now having a 4 RBI day.

Man, the top 5 in our lineup can be very dangerous. Pompey and Becker double constantly and Aklinski is second on the team in batting average. Heck, even Johnson in the 6 hole is pretty nasty with 5 doubles on the season as well, and that is without hitting as much as some of the others due to him sharing time with Shinn and others.

 

[Comebakatz3]

Of course, I don't even have to talk about Collette and Cottam in the 4 and 5 holes. lol

Heyer, I believe, is solidifying his spot in the 7 hole. He's a very dangerous number 7 hitter. Once you get past the doubles machines then you have to fear the power of Collette and Heyer. Where we need some work is the 8 hole. ARod is hitting just .250 in 8 at bats (small sample size) and Shinn is hitting .235 with 17 at bats. I imagine that there will be a battle there at that spot with Heyer going in and out of the infield and the staff looking to see if Cam Hill, Coltyn Kessler, Shinn, or ARod can give us solid contribution.

Speaking of Heyer, he hits an RBI single to score Johnson and give UK a 15-4 lead. Coltyn Kessler now coming in for Alex Rodriguez. Kessler strikes out after drawing a 3-2 count. That ends the inning. We will see if Kessler moves into the outfield or we get someone new. I imagine Heyer will be going to play third after Alex Rod comes out. UK going to the 7th up 15-4.

 

[Comebakatz3]

TJ Collette better be SEC POTW.

 

[Comebakatz3]

McGeorge now coming in for UK to pitch for Justin Lewis.

 

[Comebakatz3]

McGeorge has a 7.71 ERA in 1 appearance. He is 1-0 after pitching 2.1 innings. McGeorge is hit hard on the first pitch, but Johnson runs it down in right field for out number one.

Big changes for UK... Kessler is going to stay in to play third. Lewis is coming in to play second and Combs is coming in to play first while Cam Hill will be roaming centerfield.

 

[Comebakatz3]

McGeorge gets a strikeout for the second out. It is McGeorge's fourth strikeout as a Wildcat. According to Gabriel McGeorge sat out most of the fall with a foot injury. Lead off hitter Fitzgerald lines one into left center. Cam Hill makes a valiant effort, but can't get it on the diving attempt and there is a runner at second with 2 outs. McGeorge then gets a fly out to left to end the inning.

He is getting hit pretty hard, but he got out of it with no damage done and we go to the bottom of the 7th with UK up 15-4.

 

[Old_Red]

Got my video feed back after rebooting but it took a full 10 minutes. No one was updating the thread either, but the live stats page was working. The internet is weird.

 

[irishcat1965]

The offense is humming! Is it cause for concern we have given up a combined 10 runs today and yesterday or is it just one of those things?

 

[Comebakatz3]

Dawson takes a full count and draws a walk to lead off the bottom of the 7th. By the way, if you haven't seen it, UK is doing a countdown of the final games of Cliff Hagan Stadium. They change the number in the seventh inning stretch. Today they had Connor Heady drop the number. Squires also walks on four straight pitches.

 

[Comebakatz3]

The offense is humming! Is it cause for concern we have given up a combined 10 runs today and yesterday or is it just one of those things?

I feel like it can't be too bad considering they were still huge wins. I think when you get up huge you relax a little bit and you might get a little more loose with some pitches and make mistakes. Thompson is struggling, but I don't think that Lewis is. He sometimes has rough starts and once he gets through the first he settles in. I think he'll be fine. Thompson is a bit more of a concern, but if he continues to struggle some we still have Haake, who could very well be an SEC starter to take his place if needed. Then Thompson can be a long reliever and he might do better in that role. Sometimes just changing things like that can make a difference.

 

[Comebakatz3]

Another new pitcher for Oakland. Cam Hill, in for Aklinski, then flies out to CF. That advances Dawson to third. Not sure I like that move by Hill, he swings at the first pitch. I prefer to look at a new pitcher for a bit before pulling the trigger, especially if you haven't bee in the game yet yourself. Lewis now up for Becker with one out. He's a switch hitter and he will be hitting from the right side today. Squires moves up to second on a pitch in the dirt. Lewis draws the count full before being called out on strike three. Still, I like that he was patient and allowed Collette to see a few pitches from the new pitcher. Collette then grounds out to second to end the inning.

UK up 15-4. Would have liked to have seen UK take advantage of those two leadoff walks, but that is all right.

 

[Old_Red]

So they don't give Squires a steal on that? We need to get credit for some more steals given how often we are getting caught.

 

[Comebakatz3]

Machamer now coming in to pitch for McGeorge. Machamer has appeared in 2 games for UK and has given up 2 hits in 2.2 innings of work, opponents are hitting .250 against him. He has three strikeouts and has given up one walk. Ryan Shinn will also be coming into right field to replace Johnson.

 

[irishcat1965]

I feel like it can't be too bad considering they were still huge wins. I think when you get up huge you relax a little bit and you might get a little more loose with some pitches and make mistakes. Thompson is struggling, but I don't think that Lewis is. He sometimes has rough starts and once he gets through the first he settles in. I think he'll be fine. Thompson is a bit more of a concern, but if he continues to struggle some we still have Haake, who could very well be an SEC starter to take his place if needed. Then Thompson can be a long reliever and he might do better in that role. Sometimes just changing things like that can make a difference.

I thought Thompson would start the season hitting the ground running. Hopefully he will get things going.

 

[Comebakatz3]

So they don't give Squires a steal on that? We need to get credit for some more steals given how often we are getting caught.

Seems like whoever is scoring has been very generous at giving out defensive indifference. If they are going on the pitch it would seem to me that it is a steal.

 

[Comebakatz3]

Thompson is just leaving some pitches up. He has given up 3 home runs in his two outings, but opponents are only hitting .258 against him. While that is a little high, it isn't terrible.

Machamer is hit pretty hard, but Cam Hill runs it down in right center. The second hitter then hits another hard one and it fades away from Cam Hill to left center, but Cam cannot get to this one and it goes for a double. Another diving effort for Cam. Mach then gives up a walk. Not a bad walk to give up as this one was to Jackson, who has been hot. Mach gives up a single through the left side that scores a run. Mach then gets a ground ball to first, but it scores another run to make the score 15-6. He then gets a fly to right to end the inning. Not a good inning by Mach. He just didn't have great control in that inning.

 

[Comebakatz3]

Combs now up for UK and he lifts a shallow fly ball into right, but it gets ran down for the first out. Shinn up and he grounds out to short. He hit it hard, but right at short. A couple feet either way and he might have a single, but the one hopper couldn't find a way through. Heyer still in and he goes down quickly with a grounder to third. It was also hit pretty hard, but the Cats go down in order for the first time today.

Going to the 9th with UK up 15-6.

 

[Comebakatz3]

Carson Coleman now coming in to pitch. I wish UK would have left Machamer in to work through those issues, but they are looking to get everyone some work this weekend. Coleman is making his 4th appearance, he's got a 0.00 ERA with 6 strikeouts in 3.2 innings of work. He has given up 4 walks, but has yet to give up a hit on the year against 11 batters faced.

 

[Comebakatz3]

Well, I knew that I would screw it up if I talked about it, and I did. Coleman gives up his first hit, this one through the left side, and it is actually the hitter's first hit on the season. So, an at bat of firsts gives Oakland a leadoff runner at first. Carson then gets a fly ball to right center and Cam tracks it down for the first out. Coleman follows it up with a fly ball to Shinn out in right for out number 2. Coleman gets up early but the Oakland hitter stays alive fouling off several pitches before he flies out to Cam who tracks it down in right center.

Get out your brooms... UK sweeps Oakland by winning today's game 15-6.

 

[Jeff Drummond]

 

[Old_Red]

We gave up too many earned runs this weekend. I know we were far ahead most of the time but you are what you do and the entire pitching staff gave up too many earned runs. We were at 3.05 before today and it gets worse with today's game.

 

[Comebakatz3]

Pitching still leaves us something to be desired with just too many mistake pitches. The good thing is that we are limiting walks, just 2 of them today, but just too many pitches left up.

 

[Jeff Drummond]

RECAP: Kentucky Wildcats bash three HRs to wrap up sweep of Oakland

Kentucky's T.J. Collett (5) received a celebratory forearm bash from Kole Cottam after hitting his fourth home run of a weekend series against Oakland.
Jeff Drummond/Cats Illustrated

Jeff Drummond • CatsIllustrated.com
@JDrumUK

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- The biggest question facing eighth-ranked Kentucky heading into the season was how would the pitching-blessed Wildcats replace so many key hitters from last year's regional championship squad.

If this weekend's three-game sweep of Oakland is any indication, UK has some answers.

Kentucky (7-1) pounded the Grizzlies 15-6 on Sunday at Cliff Hagan Stadium, recording 13 hits and bashing three home runs. The Cats outscored the visitors from Michigan 42-13 during the three-game set, tallying 43 hits and seven long balls.

T.J. Collett, a sophomore designated hitter considered as one of the top MLB prospects for 2019, belted four home runs in the series, bringing his season total to five. He drove in three runs on Sunday, pushing his team-leading total to 17.

Newcomer Ryan Johnson and Luke Heyer also hit two-run blasts on Sunday.

Kole Cottam (3), Luke Becker (2), Johnson (2) and Heyer (2) all had multi-hit games for the Cats. Troy Squires added a hit, three walks and a pair of RBI for UK.

That kind of run support made it easy for junior right-hander Justin Lewis (2-0) who allowed four runs on five hits and one walk over six innings of work, striking out a career-high 11 batters.

Oakland (1-7) starter Conor Bowers (0-2) lasted only 1.2 innings on the mound. He allowed seven runs on six hits and four walks. The Cats blew the game open with a seven-run second inning after the Grizzlies had taken a 2-0 lead in the first.

Kentucky returns to action Tuesday at Cliff Hagan Stadium against Western Kentucky. First pitch is slated for 4 p.m. ET.

 

[Comebakatz3]

Really cool picture Jeff.

 

[Jeff Drummond]

Really cool picture Jeff.

Thanks!

 

[Jeff Drummond]

More photos here...

 

[Jeff Drummond]

NOTES

·Kentucky moved to 23-2 in non-conference home games under coach Nick Mingione.

·The Cats are 24-0 when scoring 10 or more runs under Mingione.

·The offense has hit a home run in all eight games this season.

·UK scored 42 runs in the three-game sweep of Oakland.

·UK played without All-American OF Tristan Pompey for the third straight game. He is out with an ankle injury.


·Junior RHP Justin Lewis pitched 6.0 IP, giving up five hits, four runs, one walk and striking out 11.

oThe 11 strikeouts are a new career high, the second straight start he has set his career high in that category. He had nine vs. USC Upstate last week.

oThe win is Lewis’ 10th career victory.

oIn his first two starts Lewis has struck out 20 and walked just one batter.


·Sophomore C/1B T.J. Collett went 2-for-5 with two runs, three RBI and a walk.

oCollett is the first UK player to homer in four consecutive games since All-American Sawyer Carroll did so in a four-game series vs. Butler in early 2008.

oCollett hit .400 in four games this week, homering four times and driving in 11 runs.

oFor his career, Collett now counts seven of his 13 career hits as extra-base hits, including six home runs.

oCollett now has 17 RBI on the season in just eight games.

oCollett is hitting .344 with an .844 slugging percentage this season.




·Senior C/1B Troy Squires went 1-for-3 with three walks, two runs and two RBI.

oSquires had eight RBI in the series.


·Junior C/1B Kole Cottam went 3-for-4 with two runs, a walk and an RBI.

oCottam tied his career high of four RBI, first set against Miss. State on 4/8/17.


·Junior OF Ryan Johnson went 2-for-3 with a double, home run, two runs, walk, hit by pitch and four RBI.

oThe home run was Johnson’s first career collegiate home run.

oThe four RBI are a career-high.

oSix of his nine hits this season have been for extra bases (five doubles, one home run).


·Senior 3B/OF Luke Heyer went 2-3 with a home run, two walks, hit by pitch, two runs and three RBI.

oHeyer connected on his fourth home run of the season in just 24 at bats.

oHeyer’s .875 slugging percentage leads the team.

oHe has homered in back-to-back games.


·Senior INF Luke Becker went 2-for-4 with two doubles, a walk, two runs scored and an RBI.

oBecker became the 50th player in school history to reach 100 career hits.

oHe has team-high six doubles this season.

 

[Tskware]

I watched Lewis pitch 4 innings, is it just me or is he throwing harder this year?