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In front of a capacity crowd of 3,555 fans, expectations were high for game three against the arch-rivals from the north. However, the team faltered once again, unable to mount any offensive threat after the 4th inning. The pitching staff unraveled dramatically during a disastrous 7-run 4th inning that decisively shifted the game’s momentum. Although Miami managed to score three runs, their offense went completely dry afterward. The Canes had chances to claw back into the game, but with only one hit following the 4th inning, their offense collapsed completely, conceding the game and the series to the Noles. Once again, the Canes failed to deliver when it mattered most.
JD’s job is to put the best offense on the field, regardless of whether they bat right or left-handed, which he continues to stick with, and the results reflect that commitment. For the second straight game, he decided to go with Brandon DeGoti at shortstop and replaced Renzo Gonzalez with Jake Ogden at first. You’re substituting a .269 hitter for someone batting .105. Ogden plays first base very well but is a far better shortstop than DeGoti, whose arm strength isn’t comparable. JD needs to change and rethink his strategy of aligning hitters with pitchers and prioritizing the best players for each position, and Brandon does not belong in the conversation. Our record shows how effective this thought process has been for us.
Our hitting has shown promise at times, like last night, but our pitching tells a completely different story. Brian Walters has been struggling and continued doing so right from the opening inning. A single, walk, and a hit batter loaded the bases with one out. After striking out Myles Bailey, it looked like he would escape a tough situation with a routine grounder back to him. Fumbling the ball the Noles took advantage of this misfortune with the first score, unearned, of the game. Brian finished the inning with a high pitch count of 23, which, like Griffin Hugus the night before, got off to a shaky start. Miami responded by getting back the run with back-to-back singles to open, and with runners on the corners, Daniel tied the score at one grounding out, bringing home Jake.
The Noles responded in the second inning with a lead-off double followed by a one-out single, giving them their second lead of the game. Miami answered by reclaiming the run and adding another to take the lead, marking the only moment the sold-out crowd had something to cheer for. With two hit batters and a walk, the bases were loaded, bringing Daniel to the plate, who singled through the middle, scoring two runs and placing runners on second and third with two outs. They had an opportunity to capitalize but fell short when Galvin grounded out. Throughout the game, Miami had chances with runners in scoring position (RISP) to increase their total, but going 2-for-15 doesn’t win games, with 11 runners left stranded on the base paths. Miami holds a 3-2 lead at the end of two innings.
The third inning was the highlight of Brian’s performance tonight, as he confidently struck out the side in a flawless three-up, three-down display. However, this strong outing was abruptly interrupted in the 4th inning when the opposing team exploded offensively, sending twelve batters to the plate and scoring seven runs. The Noles went on a hitting spree, accumulating 6 runs on six hits before recording their first out. After three consecutive hits, a walk, and another hit, JD made the decision to bring in Carson Fischer despite his dismal ERA of 8.68, the second-worst on the team. Fischer wasted no time in proving why his ERA is so high, allowing a walk and three more singles, which contributed to three additional runs—one of which was charged to Walters. This disastrous turn led to a swift change after 14 pitches, with Jackson Cleveland calling in to halt the barrage. Ultimately, the Canes fell behind by six runs, a deficit they could not overcome.
Trailing by six, the Canes refused to back down. Brandon DeGoti sparked the comeback with a powerful solo home run, reigniting enthusiasm among the fans and players alike. Fabio and Daniel followed with decisive back-to-back walks, which set the stage for Max Galvin to hit a solid double off the wall, adding two crucial runs and narrowing the six-run deficit to three. This was as close as the Canes would get. They faced additional opportunities, but despite Fabio’s double in the sixth, that was the only hit the offense could muster for the rest of the game. The Nole added an insurance run with a two-out HR in the 8th sealing the win and the series
Unacceptable inconsistency in offensive hitting continues to plague the team. For the first four innings, they managed to score runs and get hits, but then everything went silent. Pitching remains our Achilles’ heel, with both starters and the bullpen failing to perform. Without a reliable closer, this team stands little chance of securing victories, as there is no one capable of closing the deal. JD must reassess his matchup strategy and field the strongest lineup, beginning with our Friday starter. It’s unacceptable to put ourselves in catch-up mode by utilizing someone like Nick Robert as the Friday starter. The best option is Hugus, who gives us a much better chance of entering Saturday with a victory. This scenario feels all too familiar, mirroring last year’s struggles with inadequate pitching and inconsistent hitting, all while hoping for a favorable outcome.
The 14 strikeouts clearly demonstrate a troubling inconsistency in getting base runners on, and the lackluster 2-for-15 performance with runners in scoring position is simply unacceptable. Nevertheless, a few players stepped up, with Fabio Peralta leading the charge by going 3-for-3, which included a double and a stolen base to third. Daniel Cuvet bolstered his impressive tally of 27 RBIs with three more today. Max Galvin and Derek Williams each contributed a double. To make a significant impact, we must improve our hitting consistency and eliminate cold streaks at the plate, like tonight, after the fourth inning.
The schedule doesn’t get any easier as we travel to 17th-ranked NC next weekend. Not looking ahead, we must first win this Wednesday’s mid-week game against Stetson, which will be a challenge in itself to get back on track. The first pitch is set for 6:00PM.
