University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
UCLA
California
Bruins Belt Six Home Runs In 18-7 Victory Over Cal
May 06, 2000 | Baseball
May 6, 2000
LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- The Bruins slugged six home runs including two a piece from junior first baseman Garrett Atkins and junior catcher Forrest Johnson as the UCLA baseball team rolled to an 18-7 victory over California in the second game of a three-game Pac-10 series Saturday afternoon at Jackie Robinson Stadium.
UCLA ended up just one home run shy of matching a school record of seven homers set twice this season vs. North Carolina Feb. 18 and Bradley March 10. With the victory, the Bruins even the series with Cal 1-1 and improve to 29-22 overall, 12-5 in the Pac-10. Cal drops to 25-26 and 11-12 in league action. UCLA still hangs tight with first-place Stanford (37-11,15-5) who lost today at Oregon State 5-2. The Bruins are just a half game back of the Cardinal in the standings, but have one fewer loss.
Bruin bats had a big day against the Golden Bear pitching staff, racking up 16 hits for 18 runs. In addition to home runs by Atkins and Johnson, junior second baseman Chase Utley and sophomore third baseman Randall Shelley went deep as well.
The UCLA offensive explosion came in spurts, including four runs in the first inning, four in the fourth and a big five in the sixth. All but one Bruin in the starting lineup recorded a hit, while five recorded at least two hits. Junior right fielder Matt Pearl extended his career-high hitting streak to 13 games, going 2-for-6 including a two-out two-run single with the bases loaded in the sixth.
Utley was 4-for-6 with a double and a home run good for three RBI, while Atkins was 2-for-5 with four RBI on a solo home run and a two-run shot. Johnson was 3-for-5 with five RBI on a three-run homer, a two-run homer and a double. Johnson also stole home in the third inning to give the Bruins a 7-0 lead. Junior center fielder Charles Merricks was 2-for-4.
UCLA starting pitcher Josh Karp picked up the victory, his sixth straight in as many decisions, to improve to 8-1 on the season. Karp went five innings and allowed all seven Golden Bear runs in the fourth and fifth innings, after shutting them out through the first three and allowing just one hit. Junior reliever Paul Diaz came in to pitch the final four innings and did not allow a run on just one hit, to pick up his second save of the season. Cal starter Jon Shirley (2-4) suffered the loss, allowing seven runs through the first two innings.
For California, catcher Mike Tonis and third baseman Xavier Nady provided most of the offense for the Golden Bears. The pair hit back-to-back solo home runs off Karp in the top of the fourth, cutting the Bruin lead to 7-2. Then in the fifth with the bases loaded and the Bruins up 11-2, Karp walked Tonis to force in a run and was followed by a two-run single by Nady. First baseman Clint Hoover and designated hitter John Baker had an RBI single and an RBI double respectively to cap the five-run rally.
But that was all the Bears could muster, as Diaz came and shut them down, retiring the side in order twice and allowing one seventh inning single to Tonis. Nady's three RBI in the game gave him 189 in his career, tying Cal's all-time RBI record shared by Lance Blankenship (1983-86).
The rubber match of the three-game series is set for tomorrow at 1 p.m. at Jackie Robinson Stadium. Junior left-hander Bobby Roe will get the starting nod for the Bruins, while California's starter has yet to be determined.
California 000 250 000 7 9 1 UCLA 403 415 01x 18 16 0WP - Josh Karp (8-1). LP - Jon Shirley (2-4). Save - Paul Diaz (2). 2B - Chase Utley, Forrest Johnson, John Baker. HR - Garrett Atkins 2 (14), Forrest Johnson 2 (18), Chase Utley (18), Randall Shelley (3). SB - Forrest Johnson (home plate). Start: 1: 05 p.m. Time: 2:50 Attendance: 463
