Wreck'Em Red
Fansided

Texas Tech baseball: Red Raiders serve notice with sweep at Florida State

By Matthew Conner

TALLAHASSEE, FL - FEBRUARY 15: A general view from the stands of the Florida State Seminoles and the Maine Black Bears during the game at Dick Howser Stadium on the campus of Florida State University on February 15, 2019 in Tallahassee, Florida. The 11th Ranked Florida State defeated the Maine Black Bears on Opening Day in a no-hitter 11 to 0. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
TALLAHASSEE, FL - FEBRUARY 15: A general view from the stands of the Florida State Seminoles and the Maine Black Bears during the game at Dick Howser Stadium on the campus of Florida State University on February 15, 2019 in Tallahassee, Florida. The 11th Ranked Florida State defeated the Maine Black Bears on Opening Day in a no-hitter 11 to 0. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 4
Next

What else can we say about the Red Raider bullpen?

It already feels like I’m being a broken record when I say that the Texas Tech bullpen is fantastic but that’s a broken record that we will enjoy listening to all year.  Once again this weekend, the arms Tadlock brought out of the pen were the difference in the series.

The performance of John McMillon on Saturday night was nothing short of extraordinary.  In 2.1 innings of work, he struck out seven hitters, walked only one, and allowed just one hit.

He is clearly Tadlock’s top high-leverage reliever and he’s got the fiery personality that allows him to rise to the challenge when the game is on the line.  What was most impressive was that he was able to work out of a pretty tough jam in the bottom of the 11th protecting a one-run lead.

After he gave up a single and then plunked a batter, he appeared to have finished the game with a strikeout but catcher Braxton Fulford was charged with a passed ball that allowed FSU to load the bases.  McMillon kept his composure and retired the next hitter on a fly-out to center.

We also must show some love to Micah Dallas for his work on Saturday night.  He pitched 3.2 innings of relief allowing just one run while striking out five and scattering four hits.

It is clear that he’s becoming Tadlock’s long-relief weapon out of the bullpen after being last season’s Friday night starter.  Though his role has changed, he’s no less important this season as his presence in the pen allows Tech to bring a bonified starting-caliber arm into games as a bridge to the late innings.

On Sunday, Jacob Brustoski, Ryan Sublett, and Andrew Devine combined to throw 4.2 innings of scoreless baseball.  Striking out a combined six hitters, they did not allow a hit between them as FSU was held hitless after their three-run homer in the fifth.

In total, the Red Raider pen pitched 10.2 innings against the Seminoles.  It allowed just one run while striking out 18 batters.  The depth and talent Tadlock can bring out of his pen is just ridiculous and though there are many great components of this team, the relief corps is proving to be the backbone of the Red Raiders in 2020.

Home/Texas Tech Baseball