The Buckeyes scored in each of the first five innings to take a 9-0 lead and added four more runs the rest of the way to defeat Toledo 13-0 Wednesday at Bill Davis Stadium (box score). It was the fourth shutout this season and the third in the last five games.
Four Ohio State pitchers allowed just four Toledo hits. Starter Andrew Armstrong improved to 3-1 after limiting the Rockets to three hits in his 5.0 innings. The true freshman struck out four and walked one before handing the reins over to Rory Meister for an inning. Drew Rucinski pitched two innings and Alex Wimmers pitched the ninth.
Offensively, the Buckeyes slapped out 14 hits and benefited from five Toledo errors, though all but three runs were earned. Fifteen different Ohio State players saw action in the game in addition to the four pitchers. Tony Kennedy was 3-for-5 with two RBI, including a home run in his first at bat of the night. Cory Kovanda, Cory Rupert and Brian DeLucia each added two hits. Nine different Buckeyes scored a run. Ten different Buckeyes had a hit. Eight different Buckeyes drove in runs.
On the current homestand, the Buckeyes have allowed only nine runs and have a team ERA of 1.26. The starters’ ERA over that span is 1.08.
The Buckeyes (13-8, 2-2 Big Ten) play host to Minnesota (12-11, 2-2) this weekend at Bill Davis Stadium. Toledo fell to 7-12 overall. Toledo recap.
Notes of interest... On the current homestand, the Buckeyes have allowed only nine runs and have a team ERA of 1.26. The starters’ ERA over that span is 1.08... the Buckeyes did not commit an error for the third time in their last four games.
6 comments:
Armstrong looked good again tonight. Any idea what the rotation will be this weekend v. Minnesota? (Hale/FRI & JB/SUN are givens) but what about Sat. doubleheader?
Delucia and Wolosiansky are the sat. DH starters.
Dean W pitched great last weekend but go no run support.You know what Delucia brings, but last weekend his arm did not respond to the cold weather well.
I also heard the Big Ten wants to get away from Sat. doubleheader's. Don't know if it is true or not.
I think those are your four in the same order they pitched last weekend vs. Penn State: Hale, DeLuica, Wolosiansky and Shuck. Armstrong could be in there for Wolo later in the season, but not this week since he started Wednesday vs. Toledo.
According to an article in the Columbus Dispatch last Sunday, this is the last season for the four-game conference series. I knew it was on the table at the last couple of Big Ten coaches meetings, but it appears it was finally voted through. The Buckeyes will likely add one or two more games during spring break and could look for early season tournaments where they would play four games in a weekend, similar to the setup of last year's Buckeye Classic at the Yankees Minor League Complex in Tampa. They would probably have to throw in a Tuesday game every now and then. I think most fans enjoyed the Tuesday night, Wednesday afternoon series vs. North Florida last May. I would look for a similar scheduling trend if this report is accurate.
The league is looked down upon because it only plays two nine-inning games while nearly every other league is playing three nine-inning games. I have not liked the two seven-inning games on Saturday and for whatever reason the Buckeyes have struggled in those doubleheaders since 2000 or 2001.
Here is the probable order of pitchers for this weekend’s games vs Minnesota
RHP Jake Hale (2-0, 4.50 ERA) vs.
RHP Tom Buske (3-2, 2.62)
G1: LHP Andrew Armstrong (3-1, 2.45) vs.
LHP Kyle Carr (1-3, 4.65)
G2: RHP Dean Wolosiansky (2-2, 3.42) vs.
RHP Dustin Brabender (2-2, 6.12)
LHP J.B. Shuck (4-1, 3.00) vs.
RHP Seth Rosin (1-0, 1.99)
Just saw this in the OSU offical game notes.Armstrong to pitch for Delucia on saturday.
Delucia must not be ready to go this weekend. I heard on the BT radio show that dan was very upset about his outing on saturday.Todd said Dan did not feel good at all.I thought he was a little off too.But he also just had Tommy John surgery last spring. He will not be the old Dan right away.
I hope and pray Dan is ok. Great kid and even better pitcher.
Go Bucks!
Now you see why I asked about this weekend's rotation. I heard the rumor last night and wondered if there was any substance to it. We need Dan to be able to play but we don't need him so bad that he has to suffer physically to try to make it happen. I suspect we'll hear more about this in the next week or so.
The weird part to me was that I also heard that Armstrong was going to pitch last night AND on Saturday. Of course at first I didn't believe it and then I thought that maybe he would just throw a couple of innings like a bullpen. No, he threw five innings. Now he's going to come back and start Saturday on two days rest? Strange philosphy on someone's part. I'm not saying he can't do it but is that really a good idea?
Yeah i don't understand the move either.That is a lot for a true frosh in a week to pitch.Todd usually does not pitch a kid that many innings that is starting over the weekend.
Nice to see TK go 3-5 with a HR.Really like Meade at the plate as a Frosh.Looks good.
Hopefully we can score some runs on Minnesota this weekend.Big games early in the season.
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