Vols’ offense explodes for 18 runs in fourth, fifth, six innings, takes game two from Albany 21-6

Tennessee gets more two or more RBIs from seven players

Tennessee’s offense scored 18 runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth inning in what amounted to an offensive exhibition against Albany with a 21-5 thumping. The Great Danes used five pitchers, three gave up three runs while two more surrendered eight. Today, UT was Cesar Milan and Albany was Cartman from South Park (NSFW).

While the offense was struggling to plate runs early, Drew Beam looked like the preseason All-American candidate he is, giving up on run in the first after a single, a subsequent double and a sacrifice grounder back to Beam that let the runner at third make it home.

But after that, Beam was did his thing. He struck out the next two batters on six pitches to end the half inning:

In the second, he forced two ground-ball outs and a strikeout before running into a bit of a jam in the third. Two-straight singles put him in perfect position for another groundball, and his defense turned two — with a great stretch by Burke to complete the play… while Burke’s had a slow start to the year at the plate, one can tell he really worked on and improved his dexterity and focus in the offseason, and it’s translated a higher-quality defensive player at first.

This is important for two reasons: 1) Tennessee was hurt my untimely defensive flubbs last year (it was a team-wide problem and not just on Blake) and 2) Burke worked in the outfield during the offseason. This indicated Vitello at least considered moving Burke to one of the corner OF spots to minimize chances for errors at first while keeping the junior’s power-lefty bat in the lineup, especially with LNS’ short porch in right field.

A Dylan Dreiling walk followed by a Billy Amick single amounted to nothing in the bottom-half of the third, but then Beam mowed down three Albany hitters in just seven pitches to start the fourth. That’s a trade I’ll take every time.

Robin Villeneuve got hit by a pitch, and Burke continued his resurgence with a double he lasered to right before Curly took a 2-1 pitch deep for a three-run blast.

According to the Vols’ Baseball Twitter account, Curly’s HR traveled 400 feet and left his bat at 102 MPH.

Tennessee continued its fourth with six more runs: a Dalton Bargo single followed by back-to-back walks from Christian Moore and Dreiling set the table for an Amick bases-clearing double, during which he advanced to third on an errant throw from the outfield.

Kavares Tears brought Amick home with a sac fly, Cannon Peebles walked and Villeneuve made the most of his second at bat of the half frame with a two-run shot to the deepest part of the park. The official numbers on the home run: 448 feet and 108 MPH off the barrel.

Villeneuve and Curly are both making their case for more playing time: prior to today — Villeneuve was hitting .500 in six ABs while Curly’s average was .667. These midweek games are great chances to find out what, exactly, the manager has on his bench, in his bullpen and who deserves more opportunities.

Beam allowed Albany’s second run in the top of the fifth after hitting a batter on base with two outs that subsequently turned into two-straight singles, the second of which plated the run.

The runs flowed in the bottom of the fifth like the current in the Tennessee River, and it started with a Bargo double followed by a Moore single that put the former Mizzou transfer 90 feet from home.

Kavares Tears went deep for his third time in the first five games — just like Curly, Tears decided to show off the muscle and hit it to the deepest part of the park in dead center.

The three-run, moon shot tied Tears with Amick for the team-lead in home runs with three. He’s also still sitting at second on the team in batting average, even though his 1-3 day actually brought down his average by four points to .381.

Beam finished his day by navigating some base-path traffic in the fifth after a two-out HBP, a 2-1 single that put the runner in scoring position and finally another single, this time one a 1-1 pitch that advanced both runners, including the one who crossed home plate. His finally tally: 5 IP, 6 H but just 2 R and no walks. He struck out four, induced seven ground-ball outs and hit 53 of his 71 pitches for strikes. It was Beam’s first win of the young season.

Vitello brought out Aaron Combs for the sixth, and the junior righty used eight pitches to sit the Albany batters down in order.

During the bottom half, Dalton Bargo wasn’t to be left out of the QVC-like, constantly running showcase of offensive prowess. Except peddling cheap jewelry to senile elderlies, the offensive out on a legit demonstration. After a lead-off double from Burke, and a Reese Chapman pinch-run substitution, Bargo took an 0-1 pith deep to left for his first home run as a Vol and stretched the lead out to 15-2. Three walked batters and a passed ball later literally laid the ground work for Cannon Peebles’ first hit of the day, a three-run, bases-clearing double to left-center field.

The inning ended mercifully on a Chapman strikeout — his second in four at bats. The highly-recruited freshman, now a sophomore, is a player many were looking for a breakout season this year perhaps in a situational role like Burke during his freshman year or CMO’S .305, 10-HR performance his first year on campus.

It’s a long season, and Chapman is supremely talented, so let’s hope he comes around at some point, at least to some extent. Overall, UT plated five runs on three hits and took advantage of four walks and a passed ball.

Dylan Loy came out in the seventh for Combs and struck out two batters while allowing a base hit in the middle of the two Ks. Loy hasn’t allowed a run in either of his two appearances, while striking out four in seven at bats.

The bats went down easily in the B7, needing just five pitches for the four batters who made it to the plate. Albany, however, added a run after a lead-off double and a wild pitch that came off the new UT arm, freshman lefty and Tennessee native Luke Payne. Payne worked around two walks and a wild pitch by striking out the final batter of the top of the eighth.

Naturally, Chapman made me look silly in the B8 with this first hit of the year — a three—run double to right. My comment was a reverse jinx, of course! Or, I just decided to give another example of how often I’m completely and totally wrong. I’ll let you be the judge,

The Vols led 21-3 after eight innings, and Vitello brought JJ Garcia in to finish the game. Garcia gave up three quick runs on a double, a single and a home run. Mercifully, more than three hours after the game started, Garcia ended things with two Ks around another single.

Tennessee ended with with season-highs in runs and hits, with no defensive errors. Seven batters had two or more RBIs in a game when the offense gave the fans their money’s worth.

The Vols finish the series with a 1 PM first pitch as they look for their first sweep of the season.