Sooners’ Irvin roughed up in Bedlam start
For much of the season, Oklahoma’s Friday night starter, Jake Irvin was close to unbeatable.
The Sooners won each of Irvin’s first eight starts, with the junior right-hander winning each of his first five decisions.
But Irvin had a rough start in the Bedlam opener at Allie P. Reynolds Stadium, giving up a home run in each of the first three innings in an 8-0 Oklahoma State win.
Irvin had allowed just four home runs all season in 62
2/3 innings entering the game.
But Irvin struggled to keep the ball in the park against the Cowboys, giving up solo shots to Matt Kroon in the first and Colin Simpson in the third and a two-run home run to Cade Cabbiness in the second.
Simpson’s home run was his 13th of the season, tying him with Texas' Kody Clemens for the Big 12 lead.
Irvin pitches into the sixth inning, striking out a careerhigh 10 with no walks before being lifted one batter into the sixth.
“He got some pitches up early,” Sooners coach Skip Johnson said. “I thought he really maintained and gave us some quality innings so we didn’t burn all the bullpen. I thought it was huge for him to do that.”
The Sooners are now 1-8 when allowing two or more home runs.
Up next: Game 2 in Tulsa
Bedlam moves to Tulsa for the final two games of the series.
Saturday night’s game at ONEOK Field starts at 7 and will be aired on Fox Sports Oklahoma.
Joe Lienhard (4-1, 4.44 ERA) is expected to start for Oklahoma State while Devon Perez (4-1, 3.54) is scheduled for the Sooners.
Lienhard worked into the eighth last weekend against Kansas, picking up the win in a 4-3 Cowboys’ victory.
Perez is coming off his first loss of the season, allowing five runs in three innings against Texas Tech.
Short hops
Oklahoma’s Cade Harris was called out looking in the eighth while asking for time from home plate umpire Chris Coskey. Johnson said afterward that the pitch clock was a factor in Harris not being granted time . ... A heel injury kept Cowboys starting second baseman Andrew Rosa out of the lineup. Ryan Cash started in his place and went 2 for 4 with two RBI leading off. ... Oklahoma catcher Brady Lindsly made two errors in the second inning, throwing the ball into center field on Cowboys’ stolen bases. Lindsly was soon replaced by Justin Mitchell.