Narrow win over ASU is latest example of Arizona’s pitching prowess | Michael Lev

Pitching solves a lot of problems.

The Arizona baseball team has the makings of an excellent pitching staff for the second year in a row. The strides made last season under Kevin Vance and John DeRouin were not a fluke.

Arizona’s 3-2 victory over Arizona State in front of a season-high crowd of 4,799 Tuesday night at Hi Corbett Field marked the fifth game in a row in which the surging Wildcats (12-4) allowed three or fewer runs. It was the ninth time in 16 tries that Arizona yielded two or fewer walks.

I’m old enough to remember when any given midweek game involving the Wildcats was destined for a football-like final score of 14-10. The last two between Arizona and ASU ended in scores of 5-3 and 3-2. Both were UA victories.

I’ve written aplenty about Vance and DeRouin’s devotion to data and their use of technology such as the NewtForce mound that’s the centerpiece of the new Arizona Baseball Pitching Wing inside the Terry Francona Hitting Center.

There’s a major mental component to Vance’s teachings, as well. “Conviction” was the word of the night during postgame interviews with starting pitcher Raul Garayzar and first baseman/catcher Tommy Splaine.

“Conviction is the biggest part,” said Garayzar, a product of Rio Rico High School who’s among the Wildcats’ most improved players this season.

“Just be fully convicted in what you’re going to do,” added Splaine, “whether it’s a mistake or not.”

Arizona pitchers didn’t make many mistakes against ASU. Seven of them combined to allow two runs on nine hits (only two for extra bases) and two walks.

Vance and DeRouin have emboldened every pitcher to believe in himself — to trust his stuff no matter the scenario.

“They’ve done an unbelievable job,” said UA coach Chip Hale, whose team embarks on Big 12 Conference play Friday vs. Cincinnati. “Some of it’s confidence. They’ve given some guys confidence that didn’t have it. The pitching lab has helped us so much to show guys what they they’re good at — and what they’re not good at.”

Garayzar is a great example. He was expected to have a meaningful role last season after transferring from South Mountain Community College, but he wasn’t ready. He didn’t have a fully formed arsenal. Garayzar made eight appearances and finished with an 11.12 ERA.

Under the guidance of Vance and DeRouin, Garayzar went to work in the offseason. He added a slider and improved his changeup after relying mostly on a sinker and cutter last season. He also tweaked his mechanics and added a pre-pitch routine that helps to calm his nerves.

“All summer I was just pounding off-speed and trying to get that down because I knew that’s what I needed,” Garayzar said.

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He allowed just one hit in three scoreless innings against the Sun Devils, throwing 33 of 45 pitches for strikes and inducing five outs on groundouts (including a double play). It was the second time this season that Garayzar threw three scoreless frames (Feb. 15 vs. Clemson). His ERA currently sits at 2.70.

“He’s come a long way,” Hale said.

“He has some of the best stuff on the team,” added Splaine. “It’s fun to finally see him do his thing.”

While Garayzar served as the opener, Tony Pluta again played the role of closer. Renowned for his elite control — Pluta has walked only three batters in 44⅔ innings in his UA career — the junior fell behind the final two batters he faced Tuesday. He yielded a one-out single to Landon Hairston, bringing the go-ahead run to the plate. Pinch hitter Manny Garza then grounded a 2-0 pitch into a game-ending 4-6-3 double play.

Pluta hasn’t allowed a run or a walk in 9⅓ innings this season. He has a microscopic WHIP of 0.54.

The Wildcats needed their pitching and infield defense to be at their best on a night when other elements of their game weren’t clicking.

Arizona managed just three hits in 17 at-bats with runners on base and only one in 13 at-bats with runners in scoring position. But UA pitchers held ASU batters to 2 for 17 with runners on base — and gave the Sun Devils only six opportunities with RISP.

The Wildcats made a baserunning blunder in the bottom of the third. After leading off with a double, Maddox Mihalakis tried to advance from second base to third on a grounder to shortstop. He was thrown out easily.

“It’s something we learn as kids,” Hale said. “We work on it every day during batting practice. Some guys just get a little frisky.”

In the top of the eighth — after ASU coach Willie Bloomquist was ejected for arguing a check-swing ruling — Arizona’s Brendan Summerhill misplayed a rocket to right field off the bat of Jacob Tobias. The ball sailed over Summerhill’s head for a double, drove in a run and trimmed ASU’s deficit to one.

But Hunter Alberini — one of 10 newcomers on the staff — got the next batter to ground out to third, ending the threat. Alberini then passed the baton to Pluta, who did the rest.

When your pitching is that sound, you can get away with some miscues — not that Hale wants to make that a habit. He felt the Wildcats should have scored twice as many runs as they did. They might not be so lucky next time.

Arizona’s success on the mound — including an ERA of 4.30 despite surrendering 29 runs in the second and third games of the season — isn’t a product of good fortune. It’s coaches implementing a system, players being receptive to their methods — then executing in-game situations.

It’s enabling the Wildcats to win games they used to lose. Arizona is 3-3 when scoring three or fewer runs this season. The UA was 3-23 when scoring three or fewer the past two seasons.

When the Wildcats start hitting more consistently, look out.