Dru Baker shines for Red Raiders in an up-and-down day at the ballpark.
After a Friday that saw the Red Raiders (12-3) flashing leather all over the field and writing seven stars in the stat books of onlookers, Saturday could only be described as a sloppier performance. Tech finished the day with four errors, all coming in the middle innings charged to shortstop, catcher, second base, and pitcher. But despite the defensive miscues, which felt more like a lack of focus than true physical mistakes, Tech was able to once again hang onto a slim one-run lead and get the victory, although this one ended decidedly different than the tight games Tech’s found themselves in of late.
The Red Raiders jumped out to a 4-run lead over the UCONN Huskies (4-8) after Dru Baker set the tone for the game with a leadoff double to start the contest. Baker came home on a Dylan Neuse RBI single in the first inning and a Jace Jung RBI double in the second. But it was Nate Rombach who owned the first as he pounded a first-pitch offering from UCONN starter Joe Simeone through stout wind and into the Texas Tech bullpen to give the Red Raiders a crooked number on the scoreboard for the inning.
Stepping into a leadoff role for a team like Texas Tech is a difficult position to be in. That role is relied upon to get on base, steal bases, and help produce runs for the meat of the order as it comes behind him.
“I actually had a conversation after our midweek this week with Tadlock just reestablishing my role,” said Baker of his role as the leadoff hitter. “We talked about what it means to be a leadoff guy, get on base, and set the table for our bigger hitters. I’m just glad that I’m getting that done, and getting on base, and putting pressure on people so we get fastballs for our 2, 3, 4 guys and they’re driving me in really well.”
Perhaps the player nicknamed “Barrels” is one of those bigger bats as well. Today he went 4-for-4, his first career 4-hit day, scored three runs, worked a walk, and swiped two bags before scoring his final run on an error by the Huskies’ catcher. Another moment that may fly under-the-radar, as Baker himself has done to some extent this season, came in the sixth inning.
Baker sent a one-out grounder to UCONN shortstop Zach Bushling. Misreading Baker’s speed, Bushling took too many shuffle steps before firing to first, giving the hard-running left fielder had an infield single. He was then paid so much attention by pitcher Randy Polonia, that the senior righthander balked, moving Baker to second base. This type of sequence is indicative of the kind of havoc Baker, and his growing reputation will be able to wreak on the basepaths in 2021. Whatever he can do to make pitchers uncomfortable and less effective, is added benefit for Texas Tech hitters.
Baker was not left out of the defensive stat sheet either as he continues to play a strong left field for the Red Raiders, which was exceptionally evident with one out on the Huskies in the top of the sixth. After the game was lightning delayed for 38 minutes, the storm moved on and the winds shifted significantly. Hayde Key walked back into the game after the delay with a full-count on Christian Fedko and his first pitch ended up in a groundout to third base.
But Key struggled to field a bunt to follow, resulting in a man aboard and an E1, and a Kyler Fedko double placed runners on the corners. UCONN catcher Ciaran Devenney hit a fly to shallow left field, but as Baker, Cal Conley, and Neuse converged on it, overcommunication caused confusion and at the last moment Baker relocated the ball and made a falling catch for it. He popped up throwing home and his run-saving toss was on-target for Braxton Fulford to apply the tag and the double play ended the frame.
“It did look like from everybody’s vantage point it was an infield popup and the ball just kept carrying,” explained Texas Tech Head Coach Tim Tadlock. “He made a very athletic play to catch it and an even more athletic play to get up and throw the guy out, and to throw a strike. It was a baseball play, it was a really good play.”
Baker’s star wasn’t the only one in the book today as Parker Kelly made another diving grab of a line drive, giving him a pair in as many games. He also made an exceptional throw with his right foot near the foul line beyond third base, showing off the arm strength and recording the out on the Huskie’s speedy left fielder.
On the mound, Patrick Monteverde turned in another excellent performance for Tech. While it was his worst start of the season, his stat line still contained no walks, only 2 earned runs, and he worked 5.0 innings pitched in 81 pitches. When your worst is still exceptional it’s not a bad place to be. Monteverde did face more adversity from the errors in the field and he surrendered only his second extra-base hit of the season as well as his second wild pitch in 2021.
“In the inning where they scored a couple against him, he needs to be commended for continuing to pitch,” said Tadlock. “It’s hard for anybody to get a double-play ball and think you’re out of the inning. He didn’t realize it’s catcher’s interference, one of those things that happens. Gives up the hit after that but continues to execute pitches but got us out of it, and that’s easier said than done.”
The Red Raider bullpen in the combined efforts of Key, Eli Riechmann, Micah Dallas, and Jamie Hitt, turned in a scoreless performance over 4 innings. Dallas turned some heads as he was called in to pick up Riechmann, who struggled with back-to-back walks in the seventh. Dallas was efficient in his two innings of work, giving up only one hit and retiring the Huskies in order otherwise. He is slated to start the Monday game and after tossing only 19 pitches Saturday, he is still almost definitely available.
While it wasn’t a one-run finish, the game was tight until Texas Tech broke it open in the bottom of the eighth. Cody Masters gave the Red Raiders breathing room with a solo moonshot hitting the middle of the video board. Following Masters’ homerun, multiple UCONN pitchers issued 4 walks, 2 wild pitches, a balk, and their catcher gave up an error as well. When the dust settled, Tech plated six runs in the frame and tallied two more hits with Baker’s single and a double down the left-field line by Fulford.
The Red Raiders will be back at it again Sunday at 2 p.m. in the third installment of the series with the Huskies. Mason Montgomery is slated to start for Tech opposite UCONN RHP Austin Peterson.
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