The Barometer Online

Issue date: 5/11/09 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Jeff Wick Sophomore Tanner Robles throws a pitch against Washington at the home of the Seattle Mariners - Safeco Field.

Under the bright lights at Safeco Field, Oregon State University sophomore left-hander Tanner Robles shone bright as he pitched the Friday night opener of a three-game series against University of Washington, leading the Beavers to their 12th Pac-10 win of the season. The final score was 6-4.

Friday night marked the second time in three years that the Beavers have battled UW at the professional ballpark in Seattle, where Robles and company remained in complete control for most of game.

After surrendering a single to the first batter he faced, Robles pitched the following 6 1/3 innings with grim accuracy, retiring 16 straight UW hitters at one point, and earning himself his first win of the season.

"I was throwing mostly fastballs on both sides of the plate, and just trying to win one for my team," Robles said. "I felt like I battled hard out there, but my command was good for the most part, so I liked that."

Robles' 6 1/3 innings of two-hit shutout baseball earned him a standing ovation from the crowd of nearly 2,000 Beaver fans who made the trip to the game. Head coach Pat Casey pulled Robles after only 77 pitches, as Robles is still recovering from a strained muscle that kept him on the bench for part of the season.

"Tanner was outstanding," Casey said. "He did a great job and pitched well. It is a great ballpark to pitch in. He got off to a great start, and he is capable of doing that any night. He is not really cemented into the role [of Friday starter] at this point, but if he throws like he did tonight, he is going to be in the rotation."

On the offensive end, the Beavers roughed up the Husky pitching staff, especially right-handed starter Jorden Merry, who was pulled after walking six OSU batters in the first three innings.

Already holding the upper hand with a 2-0 lead after the fifth, the Beavers bought plenty of insurance when sophomore infielder Stefen Romero ripped a bases-loaded triple to deep right-center, scoring John Wallace, Joey Wong and Ryan Ortiz. Romero would cross home plate himself on the next pitch when sophomore infielder Jared Norris blasted a single through the gap to right.

Continued...

Page 1 of 2 next >

Article Tools