Entering the 2011 season, Oregon’s pitching staff was touted as one of the finest in the nation. The Ducks returned ace Tyler Anderson and several top relievers from last year’s squad, which finished with the second-best ERA in the Pacific-10 Conference.
Thus far, the Ducks’ rotation has performed up to expectations – Oregon’s team ERA is an impressive 2.82 – but was made to look merely average by a trio of UCLA starters over the weekend.
The Bruins made it abundantly clear why their starting rotation is considered among the nation’s elite in a three-game sweep of the Ducks.
Projected first round picks in next month’s MLB Draft, Gerrit Cole and Trevor Bauer, along with freshman sensation Adam Plutko, limited Oregon’s offense to two runs in 27 innings.
Part of that success can be attributed to Oregon’s’ offensive woes – as a team, the Ducks are hitting in the .236 – but it can also be pinned on the dominant stuff of UCLA’s pitchers.
“Tip your cap, those pitchers are good,” Oregon second baseman Danny Pulfer said.
That assessment was validated both on the field and in the stands, where a large contingent of MLB personnel — including Seattle Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik — were on hand at PK Park to watch the Ducks and Bruins battle.
In the series opener Friday, Cole out-dueled Anderson, another highly ranked draft prospect.
Though Oregon’s lefty ace allowed four runs in 5 1/3 tough innings, Cole was on-point in 7 1/3 frames, surrendering one run and six hits while striking out five as UCLA topped the Ducks 7-1. @@http://www.goducks.com/downloads2/415945.htm?ATCLID=205148117&SPSID=94835&SPID=11401&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=500@@
Cole impressed with a fastball that reached 97 miles per hour and an upper-80s sharp slider. The deception in his delivery made quality at-bats even more difficult to come by for the Ducks.
“As a right-handed hitter, it looks like he steps at you and throws across his body, so it’s a little challenging sometimes,” Pulfer said.
Oregon did have opportunities, however. The Ducks put runners on base in each of the first four innings, and stranded 10 runners over the course of Friday’s game.
They just couldn’t come through in RBI situations.
“We set the table; we just couldn’t eat,” Oregon head coach George Horton said.
Oregon’s opportunities were less plentiful the following night when Bauer, arguably the top pitcher in all of college baseball, took the mound. In a complete game 3-1 victory, Bauer lowered his ERA to 1.43, and increased his college-baseball leading strikeout total to 154. @@http://www.goducks.com/downloads2/415999.htm?ATCLID=205148418&SPSID=94835&SPID=11401&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=500@@ @@http://www.ncaa.com/stats/baseball/d1/current/individual/356@@
Although he doesn’t throw as hard as Cole, Bauer kept Oregon’s hitters off balance by mixing pitches and location.
“I think this is one of the more quality pitchers,” Pulfer said. “He does mix counts; he does spot up; he goes in and out. He throws a lot of pitches for strikes versus Garrett, (who) lives off his fastball because he can.”
Though only a freshman, and thus not eligible for the draft for two more seasons, UCLA’s Sunday starter Plutko was just as effective as his first-round rotation mates. Plutko, whose sister Sara is a junior on Oregon’s soccer team, pitched a complete game two-hitter in the Bruins’ 4-0 win over Oregon. @@http://www.goducks.com/downloads2/416019.htm?ATCLID=205148629&SPSID=94835&SPID=11401&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=500@@
Plutko allowed only three baserunners (two hits, one walk) and struck out seven in nine innings. Only two Oregon batters advanced as far as second base.
Like Bauer the night before, Plutko got the better of Oregon with excellent control.
“Kudos to Plutko, who had the ability to keep pounding the top part of the strike zone and making us hit it in the air,” Horton said.
The good news for Oregon, following yet another disappointing series loss, is that in all likelihood, Bauer and Cole will be toiling in the minor leagues when the Ducks take on the Bruins next year.
It’s a fair bet nobody associated with Oregon baseball will be too upset about that.