Hurricane Pitchers Combine For Five-Hit Shutout In Win Over Blue Devils

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Friday, March 17

Durham, N.C.

7:00 PM

Duke University

Miami

Roth: Mr. Friday; Devils Like Their Chances With Otero On The Mound

Hurricane Pitchers Combine For Five-Hit Shutout In Win Over Blue Devils

3/17/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

By: Duke Sports Information

DURHAM, N.C. ? Three Miami pitchers combined for a five-hit shutout as the Hurricanes won their 13th straight game, defeating the Duke Blue Devils, 3-0, on Friday night at Jack Coombs Field. The Blue Devils fall to 8-14 overall and 1-3 in the ACC while the Hurricanes improve to 19-6 overall and 4-0 in conference play.

Miami starter Carlos Gutierrez (6-1) picked up his sixth victory of the season, holding the Blue Devils to four hits in 7.0 innings of work. The sophomore registered seven strikeouts in the win. Reliever Danny Gil worked a perfect eighth inning for the Hurricanes before right-hander Chris Perez closed out the ninth to earn his fifth save of the year.
Duke threatened to score in the bottom of the ninth but Perez got out of a bases-loaded jam by forcing second baseman Javier Socorro to ground out to end the game.

The Hurricanes took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second. After third baseman Danny Valencia singled to center to start the inning, right fielder Tommy Giles reached on a bunt single to give Miami runners on first and second. Catcher Eddy Rodriguez then grounded into a 1-5-3 double play that allowed Giles to advance to second. Designated hitter Dennis Raben followed with an RBI-double to center, scoring Giles for the first run of the game.

Miami would score a pair of runs in the top of the fifth to cap the scoring. Raben hit a one-out double to left center to begin the inning. Shortstop Roger Tomas would then reach on an error to give the Hurricanes runners on the corners. Left fielder Blake Tekotte followed with a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Raben. Tomas would then score after second baseman Jemile Weeks' double down the left field line was misplayed in the corner by Duke left fielder Daniel Palmer.

Duke received another solid pitching performance from starter Danny Otero (4-1), who suffered his first loss of the season after allowing one earned run on eight hits in 8.0 innings of work.

Center fielder Jonathan Anderson went 2-for-4 at the plate to lead the Blue Devils while catcher Matt Williams, first baseman Jonathan Nicolla and Socorro would each add one hit on the night.

Raben led the Hurricanes at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two doubles, an RBI and a run scored.

Game two of the three-game series is scheduled for 7 p.m. tomorrow night at Jack Coombs Field. The Blue Devils and the Hurricanes will then wrap up their three-game series at 1 p.m. on Sunday.

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