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Sunday, February 25, 2007

Vanderbilt wins on a walk-off



The Vanderbilt Commodores came back from two deficits to pull out a 7-6 victory. Boston College jumped out to a 5-1 lead after 3 innings. Vanderbilt was held in check until the bottom of the eighth when they were trailing 5-3. Pedro Alvarez started the inning off by walking on four pitches. Ryan Flaherty then followed with a single up the middle. Shea Robin then followed with a sacrifice bunt to set up second and third with one out. BC made a pitching change to bring in closer Dan Houston who promptly made Dominic de la Osa make an excuse me swing to get the runner home from third and Flaherty advanced to third base while Osa was out at first. The next pitch thrown by Houston got by catcher Tony Sanchez to allow Flaherty to score from third and tie the game up. Houston was able to work around a walk and a single to get out of the inning. BC then picked up a key lead-off double by Joseph Ayers in the top of the ninth. BC decided to bunt with Johnny Ayers to move Joseph Ayers to third with one out. Vanderbilt then brought in closer Casey Weathers who was greeted by a ground ball from Ryan Hutchinson which got through the infield to drive Joseph Ayers to get a 6-5 victory. Weathers then got the final two outs of the inning. As we entered the bottom of the ninth, Vanderbilt was trailing by one run. Dan Houston got David Macias and Alex Feinberg to fly out . BC then pitched around Pedro Alvarez to bring the winning run to the plate in Ryan Flaherty. Ryan then took the fourth pitch and put it over the left field wall to win the exciting game away from Boston College.

BC is having some major problems in the closer role this season as this is Dan Houston's second blown save of the weekend. I think a change is needed in the bullpen for the Eagles. They are continuing to hang around these more powerful teams but can't finish the deal.

BC will return to action on Friday with an exbition game against the Boston Red Sox. Daisuke Matsuzaka will start against the Eagles in his first career appearance on American soil. Vanderbilt will be back in action on Tuesday with Austin Peay.

BC Recap

Vandy Recap
Vanderbilt Scout.com Recap

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey Zlax....think that once Doyle is back that Boggan goes back to the closer's role? Houston is not cutting it. BC should be leaving Nashville at 2-1 (including a win over the #1 team in the country). Great job as always.

Skip (aka choopsking)

Brian P. Foley said...

I don't think that is going to happen. I think you will see Ratliff or Asselin in the closer role before they make the move back to Boggan. Everyone that I have spoken to around the BC program spoke very highly of Houston's chances of closing. Cadoret also was pathetic today. I really like what Mike Belfiore is doing at the plate and he even pitched a perfect inning tonight. So he is also an option.

That guy said...

Sorry to hear baout your bullpen struggles, although I was awfully pleased about the comeback today. Good luck against Dice-K and the Sox. :)

Go Dores!

PhilipVU94

Brian P. Foley said...

Phillip keep checking the site...I will be following the Dores all year.

Bear Fan said...

Way to go Ryan Flaherty of Portland, Maine! There's some great baseball talent in the Pine Tree State. It was even sweeter that he had the big ding vs. BC.