Numbers never lie, and the numbers would indicate that the George Horton got one hell of an outing from his pitching staff in the Ducks 3-1 over Portland.
Christian Jones got things started, making his first start since May of 2011 after recovering from Tommy John surgery. Jones was on a controlled start and threw just three innings, but fanned five and gave up just two hits. Jones said he wasn’t quite back to 100 percent, at least psychologically.
“I’ve got to get back to really letting the ball go.” Jones said. “It was cold and a little stiff tonight, so I was questioning it a little bit and I need to realize that it’s healthy and just let the ball go.”
Oregon then gave the ball to Jeff Gold, who returned from an injury of his own, albeit a much minor one. In his last outing, Gold was hit in the left ankle by a line drive and was forced to leave the Ducks sweep-clinching victory just one out short of recording a decision.
Gold made quick work of the first batter he faced, setting him down on strikes. The junior from Moraga, California then struck out the next two batters to retire the side. By the time he was pulled before the start of the eighth inning, Gold had struck out a career-high seven batters in four innings of no-hit work.
“I had all four for strikes,” Gold said, “and Horton just called pitches well and I executed.”
Garret Cleavinger took over for the eighth inning and faced the first batter of the ninth as well before Jimmie Sherfy took over in time to earn his third save of the season.
As a pitching staff, the Ducks held Portland to just one run on six hits but issued just two free passes, both on hit batsmen.
“Fifteen strikeouts and no walks, that’s a pretty good effort on the mound,” Horton said.
Offensively the Ducks weren’t as impressive, but they were opportunistic, scoring three times on just three hits.
In an effort typical of the small-ball brand of baseball Horton loves, Scott Heineman was the Ducks offensive MVP despite not registering an at-bat. The center-fielder walked and came around to score in the first inning, scored again after being hit by a pitch in the third inning and added an RBI on a sacrifice fly in the fifth.
“I was just battling at the plate,” Heineman said. “I got some opportunities on the basepaths to do something, it was a hard nose night.”
While they made use of what little opportunities they did have, the Ducks lack of offensive production is cause for concern. With the likes of Cal State Fullerton and Vanderbilt on the Ducks schedule for the next few weekends, the Ducks might not be as lucky with so few hits. Still, coach Horton says it’s a matter of when, not if, the Ducks will find their offense.
Oregon travels to California for a three game set with Horton’s former team, Cal State Fullerton, this weekend.