PHOENIX – Starting left-hander Ryan Kellogg pitched into the eighth inning and No. 17 Sun Devil Baseball rallied from an early deficit to hand No. 1 TCU its first loss of the season, 7-6, in front 3,559 fans on Saturday at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
Kellogg (2-0) struck out seven, did not issue a walk and at one point retired 11 in a row in the middle innings en route to his 21st career win, including his ninth career win over a top-15 team and second this season. He scattered seven hits, including just one extra-base hit, and was responsible for five runs across 7 2/3 innings.
The Sun Devils (4-2) conceded a three-run homer in the top of the second to quickly fall behind, 0-3, but countered with five unanswered runs in the bottom of the second and third innings to take a 5-3 advantage. ASU added a run in both the fifth and eighth innings to help stave off the Horned Frogs (5-1), which made a late push with three runs in the final two frames.
Designated hitter RJ Ybarra’s three-run homer to left field punctuated ASU’s four-run third inning and established a lead ASU never relinquished. He finished 3-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored, while shortstop Colby Woodmansee added a pair of RBI and center fielder Johnny Sewald scored twice for the Devils.
Right-hander Ryan Burr (3) stranded the tying run on second in the top of the eighth and left the go-ahead run at second in the ninth to close out the win. He struck out three in 1 1/3 innings to register his third save of the season and extend his career saves record to 27.
A three-run homer by TCU catcher Zack Plunkett gave the Horned Frogs an early 3-0 advantage in the top of the second inning. A pair of singles and a fielder’s choice put runners on the corners with two outs, and Plunkett drove a 1-0 pitcher off the videoboard to open the scoring.
ASU left fielder Coltin Gerhart secured his first career RBI with a single to center field in the second inning to cut the Devils’ deficit to a pair, 1-3. Ybarra opened the frame with a ground-rule double and moved to second on a long fly ball before Gerhart plated him.
Catcher Brian Serven led off the third with a single as the Devils scored four runs on just a pair of hits in the frame. A fielding error on a sacrifice bunt by second baseman Jordan Aboites loaded the bases for Woodmansee, who brought home Serven with sacrifice fly to right field. Ybarra then cleared the bases on the next pitch with a three-run homer to left field to put ASU ahead for the first time in the series, 5-3.
Sewald opened the bottom of the fifth with a bunt single, and moved to third on a balk and a sacrifice bunt from Aboites to set up Woodmansee’s RBI single down the left-field line as ASU extended its advantage, 6-3.
The Horned Frogs brought it within one in the eighth inning after first baseman Jeremie Fagnan hit a two-run double to right field off Burr, who took over with runners on first and second and two outs in the top of the frame. ASU countered in the bottom of the inning with a sacrifice fly by left fielder Jake Peevyhouse to put the Devils back on top by a pair, 7-5.
Burr conceded an unearned run with just one out in the top of the ninth after TCU right fielder Nolan Brown reached second base on a throwing error and scored on a double by shortstop Keaton Jones. However, Burr struck out the next two batters he faced to end the threat.
TCU starting left-hander Tyler Alexander (0-1) took his first loss of the season after he gave up six runs, including five earned, on five hits in 4 1/3 innings.
Notes
ASU improved to 2-1 in one-run games this season and is 9-10 in 19 one-run games dating back to the start of 2014…freshman infielder Ryan Lillard scored his first career run today in the eighth inning...Burr has 11 strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings this season.
Up Next
The Devils close out their three-game series against No. 1 TCU on Sunday, Feb. 22. The game will be live streamed via thesundevils.com.
Sunday’s Pitching Matchup
TCU: LHP Alex Young (0-0, 0.00)
ASU: TBA