First off….What a game Wednesday night. It looked like Virginia had the game wrapped up with two outs in the ninth, but Arkansas’ Brett Eibner crushed a game tying 2 run homer to left field to send the game to extra innings. The Razorbacks would continue to grind it out and took the lead in the 12th, when Andrew Darr ripped a double down the line scoring the runner on second. Pitcher Dallas Keuchel pitched four key innings of relief and sent the young and inexperienced Cavs packing. It was a phenomenal ballgame and a great come from behind victory.
Now the question is: Can the Tigers dig their claws into the Hogs for a fourth time this season?
One Tiger who is sure licking his chops is Friday’s starting pitcher Anthony Ranaudo. The big, right handed flamethrower had a rough outing his last time out, lasting only 3 1/3 innings and gave up 5 hits and 2 runs against Virginia.
Ranaudo chalked up his last outing as just being “one of those games.” A positive is that it was his shortest outing of the season and he’ll be well rested for Friday afternoon.
Will Ranaudo be able to rebound? Coach Paul Mainieri sure believes in him, because he knows that his ace has that “warrior” mentality.
Mainieri called Ranaudo a “caged lion” and said that he knows what a competitor Anthony is and knows he will come back strong.
I look forward to Friday afternoon, when Mainieri opens that cage and lets the beast out. Ranaudo looks to carve up some Hogs and send the Tigers to the Finals.
You can listen to the game on WWL Friday afternoon. Our coverage begins at 12:45.
You can email me at sgeller@entercom.com
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