Texas Tech University Athletics
Live Blog From Manhattan (Game Two)
May 09, 2009 | Baseball
May 9, 2009
12:31 p.m.
The Red Raiders have arrived at the ballpark and have just begun taking batting practice. It is a beautiful day here in Manhattan but there is a cool breeze blowing so most of the attire here at the ballpark involves a jacket. But its a great day for baseball!
Last night was absolutely HUGE for the Red Raiders. The win last night (against the nation's leader in ERA - AJ Morris) puts Tech in position to win its first series on the road since the 2004 season. That's a span of 23 consecutive series losses in case you were wondering. However, that won't be an easy task. You can bet that Kansas State will bring a fight today after getting shutout last night.
The Red Raiders got some needed help from Oklahoma last night as the Sooners beat Oklahoma State 5-2 in Tulsa. That series moves to Oklahoma City tonight with first pitch at Bricktown Ballpark set for 7:05 p.m. Oklahoma had not beaten OK State in Tulsa since the 2000 season and it was a welcome win for the Red Raiders.
12:48 p.m. The lineups are in so lets take a look.
For the Red Raiders
2B Willie Rueda
SS Joey Kenworthy
1B Chris Richburg
CF Taylor Ashby
DH Scott LeJeune
3B Justin Berry
LF Michael Reed
RF Garrett Totten
C Jeremy Mayo
RHP AJ Ramos (4-4; 5.40 ERA)
For the Wildcats
DH Adam Muenster
2B Carter Jurica
LF Nick Martini
1B Justin Bloxom
3B Jason King
SS Drew Biery
RF Jordan Cruz
C Rob Vaughn
CF Dane Yelovich
RHP Lance Hoge (5-2; 3.67 ERA)
1:23 p.m.
Sorry folks but the KSU guest network is not agreeing with Gametracker. So it looks like you will have to follow the blog again today. My sincere apologies but I will do my best to keep you up to date with the action. Texas Tech is currently taking infield and we are about 40 minutes away from first pitch.
Texas A&M leads Texas 3-0 in the sixth inning.
1:36 p.m.
Thanks to Leslie Kieschnick and Gary Macnoll for your kind emails this morning in regard to last night's blog. I'm just glad someone was reading! And a big special thanks to Mrs. Kieschnick for the chocolate chip cookies she brought our team for the Dallas Baptist game. She is a fan for life and makes great cookies!
1:57 p.m.
The National Anthem has been played and we are almost set for baseball. There is NO band here today! Thank goodness. That was brutal. GO RED RAIDERS!!!
1:59 p.m.
I have some bad news regading the upcoming midweek series against Mississippi Valley State. It's not gonna happen. We received word yesterday from MVSU that they aren't going to make the trip to Lubbock. Tech was going to foot the bill for their entire trip - they just simply decided not to come. We are currently working on some other games but no word on anything yet. I will have an official release later tonight.
By the way, Willie Rueda just reached on a fielding error to start the game.
2:09 p.m.
Well Tech wasn't able to make anything happen in the first. Kenworthy flew out and Rueda was caught stealing. Richburg grounded out to end the inning. Game is scoreless in the bottom of the first.
2:16 p.m.
AJ Ramos extends the Tech streak to 10 shutout innings over the Wildcats. AJ got the first two outs on a strikeout and a fly out but walked the next two batters. Jason King swung at the first offering and grounded into a fielder's choice (out was made at second) to end the inning. Ashby due up for the Red Raiders. Pitch count for Ramos is 19.
2:21 p.m.
Tech goes quietly in the second. Back-to-back fly outs by Ashby and LeJeune and then Justin Berry was caught looking to end the inning. KSU centerfielder Dane Yelovich made a specatcular catch to rob LeJeune of a double. Pitch count for Hoge is 27.
2:31 p.m.
Ramos has lived dangerously having walked three guys in two innings but has gotten out of both innings with no damage. His pitch is at 37 after two innings so he needs to come out strong the next couple of innings because we are going to need him to go seven or eight if possible. The game is scoreless moving to the top of the third.
FINAL SCORE: Texas A&M beats Texas 3-0 in Austin.
2:47 p.m. Red Raiders Take The Lead
A HUGE inning for the Red Raiders as they take a 4-0 lead. It all started with Rueda who got the first hit of the game with a bloop RBI single to shallow center that gave Tech the 1-0 lead. Kenworthy moved Rueda to third with a single to right-center and then Ricbhurg came up and dropped a two-RBI triple off the wall in right to make the score 3-0. Ashby rounded things out with an RBI single to score Richburg and gave Tech the 4-0 lead. AJ needs to be sharp in the third and not allow KSU to get on the board.
Kansas and Missouri are tied at 2-2.
2:59 p.m.
Well you knew this potent KSU offense would get on the board eventually and they did in the third. The Wildcats got three hits off Ramos including an RBI single by Justin Bloxom. Ramos did a nice job of recovering as he struckout the next two batters with Wildcats runners at second and third. Tech leads 4-1 heading to the top of the fourth and Ramos' pitch count is now at 57.
3:07 p.m.
Garrett Totten reached on a two-out double and Jeremy Mayo walked but the Red Raiders were unable to scratch across a run in the the top of the fourth as Rueda flew out to left to end the inning. Tech leads 4-1 in the bottom of the fourth. The pitch count for Hoge stands at 79 and they do have someone warming in the bullpen. Lets go AJ!
3:19 p.m.
WOOOOOWWWWWW!!! Things looked bad for the Red Raiders as Kansas State got a leadoff single by Jordan Cruz and a double by Rob Vaughn to put runners at second and third. Then Dane Yelovich hit a shallow fly ball in right that was caught by Rueda and for some reason Cruz tried to score and Willie threw him out easily for the double play. Ramos then retired Muenster on a line out to end the inning. That was huge for Tech because it looked like the Wildcats were poised for a rally. Tech leads 4-1 top 5. Ramos pitch count is at 79.
3:23 p.m.
Well the top of the fifh went quick. Tech goes down 1-2-3. Tech 4, KSU 1 bottom 5.
Mizzou leads Kansas 3-2 in the bottom of the fourth. The Tigers are looking for their 10th straight Big 12 win. Thats impressive in this league.
3:32 p.m.
Only three Wildcat hitters came to the plate in the fifth. Ramos' pitch count is now at 94 as we move to the top of the sixth inning. Tech leads 4-1.
3:41 p.m. Pitching Change For Kansas State
The Wildcats have gone to their bullpen for RHP James Allen. Tech has a runner at second base (Justin Berry) with two outs and Garrett Totten at the plate.
Today's attendance is 2,577.
3:53 p.m. Another Pitching Change for K-State
Allen walked three batters, including Willie with the bases loaded and now Tech leads it 5-1. They have now brought in closer Thomas Rooke. Joey Kenworthy is at the plate with the bases loaded and two outs. Again, Tech leads it 5-1 with a chance to do more damage here.
4:00 p.m.
There is a reason Kenworthy is our leading hitter. After falling behind 0-2 in the count, he battled back and dropped a two-RBI single into shallow center field. Tech now leads it 7-1 in the bottom of the sixth inning. Ramos is on the mound and need a quick inning! GO TECH!
4:08 p.m.
An outstanding job by Ramos to retire KSU in order in the sixth. This is an area that Tech has struggled in for several years is putting up a zero after scoring runs. Ramos has done well today pitching with a lead but his count is up to 110. I bet he will come back for the seventh inning. Look for the ball to be in Brian Cloud's hands late in the game.
4:15 p.m.
Tech goes down in order in the seventh. Red Raiders lead 7-1 going to the bottom of the frame. Ramos back on the mound.
4:22 p.m. Pitching Change For Texas Tech
AJ Ramos gets one out in the seventh but allows a hit and a walk before Dan Spencer elects to go to the bullpen. Miles Morgan is in the game and it will be his first career relief appearance. Ramos through 128 pitches. Outstanding job by Ramos. Lets Go Tech!
4:30 p.m.
Morgan allows a wild pitch but gets a couple of ground balls to end the inning but the Wildcats do score a run. Tech now leads it 7-2 heading to the top of the eighth. New pitcher for K-State is Dustin Hobbs.
4:39 p.m. Pitching Change for KSU
Tech has bases loaded and nobody out in the eigth. KSU has gone to the bullpen and Rueda is at the plate for Tech.
4:53 p.m. - HUGE INNING!!!
Well the Red Raiders pour it on in the eighth with five runs to take a 12-2 lead. Rueda, Kenworthy, Richburg, Ashby and LeJeune all drive in runs for Tech. Morgan back on the mound as we move to the eighth.
5:06 p.m.
Well not what we wanted to see from Morgan in the bottom of the eighth but it was not entirely his fault. KSU has scored three runs and has a runner at third with only one out. Brian Cloud is now in the game for Tech. Willie Rueda misplayed a ball at second for the first error of the game for the Red Raiders so there should be two outs in this inning. Lets hope Cloud holds them here.
5:13 p.m.
Big Tex (Cloud) gets the job done for the Red Raiders as he gets two outs and the Red Raiders take a 12-6 lead to the top of the ninth.
5:19
Well folks we go to the bottom of the ninth with Tech leading 12-6. If Tech can hold this six-run lead, this team will do something that has not been done in five years - win a series on the road. The last was at Oklahoma State in 2004 - 23-straight series losses up to this point for Tech away from Dan Law Field.
So cross everything you got and get your Guns Up! This one is huge for the Red Raiders.
Final Score, Tech 12, KSU 6
