SAN DIEGO “”mdash; It was not a crack but instead a ping of the
bat that rang in the first set of games ever played at the San
Diego Padres’ cozy new home, PETCO Park.
UCLA’s baseball team played at the San Diego State Aztec
Invitational in the inaugural games Friday, Saturday and Sunday at
the park.
The Bruins (12-8) captured one victory in three games ““
losing 3-0 to No. 9 Long Beach State, defeating Nebraska 4-2, and
losing to Houston 7-6.
In the Bruins’ first game, hard-throwing left-hander Wes
Whisler was pitted against LBSU’s Jared Weaver, one of the
best pitchers in the country.
“Weaver is a polished pitcher. He is a competitor,”
UCLA coach Gary Adams said. “I could see how he could be the
No. 1 pick in the nation.”
The performance of the Long Beach Dirtbags’ (13-4) Weaver
was characteristic of his reputation.
Weaver allowed only one hit and one walk in eight innings. The
righty struck out 15 players, tying his career high.
“He did a great job tonight (in) keeping us
off-balance,” shortstop Ryan McCarthy said.
Bruin ace Casey Janssen started Saturday afternoon’s
meeting with the Nebraska Huskers (7-4) and pitched a gem, allowing
only four hits and two runs in eight and two-thirds innings of
work. He improved his record to 5-0 and lowered his
opponents’ batting average to .149.
“I was looking forward to pitching in this stadium the
whole year,” Janssen said. “I was a bit nervous going
into the game, but it finally clicked, and I started pitching
well.”
“Today, Casey was Jared Weaver,” Adams said.
The Bruin offense gave Janssen ample run support. UCLA was the
first on the board, notching a pair of runs in the bottom of the
second.
Left fielder Matt Thayer led off the inning by playing croquet
using Nebraska’s Alex Gordon as a wicket. A scorching
grounder off Thayer’s bat skipped between Gordon’s
legs, placing Thayer on first. Thayer then advanced to second on a
McCarthy single and crossed the plate on an RBI single by catcher
Chris Denove.
Thayer and McCarthy both scored again in the sixth inning. After
a leadoff single by Thayer, McCarthy teed off, hitting a two-run
round-tripper to left field, giving UCLA a 4-0 lead.
The third and final game was a sun-drenched afternoon shootout
between UCLA and Houston (6-12).
Houston took an early lead, scoring six runs in the first four
innings. UCLA’s offense, on the other hand, was relatively
stagnant until late in the game. Down 6-2 in the top of the eighth,
the bottom of the Bruins’ order loaded the bases with no
outs. A Preston Griffin single brought in two runs, and after a
sacrifice bunt, designated hitter Brett McMillan’s sacrifice
fly brought UCLA to within a single run.
The next batter, Whisler, belted a two-out double down the right
field line that scored Griffin and tied the game at 6-6.
The comeback, though, was in vain. In the bottom of the ninth,
UCLA reliever Kyle Wilson walked Houston’s Kevin Roberts on a
full count, with bases loaded and two outs, to drive in the winning
run.
The Cougars won the game 7-6.
The Bruins next face Loyola Marymount (11-7) at Jackßie
Robinson Stadium on Tuesday.