McKenna’s saves help Stars advance
Mike McKenna made 47 saves to lift the Texas Stars to a series-clinching 1-0 victory over the Ontario Reign in the first round of the Calder Cup playoffs in Ontario, Calif., on Tuesday night.
The Game 4 win gives the Stars a 3-1 series triumph and sends them to the Pacific Division finals for the right to play in the Western Conference finals.
Denis Gurianov scored early in the third period to give Texas the goal it needed, but McKenna was the biggest star of the night.
McKenna was just three saves short of 50 to send the Stars on to the next round. He saved 25 shots through the first two periods and ended up turning away 22 more in the third period.
At the other end, Cal Petersen had a solid night in net. He stopped 25 of the 26 shots he faced, but the one he let slip by proved to be the winner.
Roope Hintz took a shot that Petersen couldn’t handle, and Gurianov slotted home the rebound at 6:54 into the third period.
McKenna made 44 saves in over 68 minutes of action in the Stars’ Game 3 5-4, double-overtime win. Added to his performance in Game 4, that makes 111 straight saves he’s made without allowing a goal.
Texas next faces the winner of the Tucson-San Jose series in the second round. just had a good time with it.”
Robinson’s father, Jeff, played for Augie Garrido at Cal State Fullerton, so his signing with Texas made for a nice story. Robinson, though, made only three pitching appearances in his first two years on campus; he redshirted in 2015 and had a 15.43 ERA in 2⅓ innings a year later.
After David Pierce replaced Garrido following the 2016 season, Robinson received a phone call. Robinson said he was told by Pierce that a change in his arm slot — or the angle of the arm as a pitcher releases the ball — would be beneficial. Robinson was receptive to the idea.
Pierce, however, was more blunt when asked about that conversation.
“Honestly, I tried to take his scholarship away from him because I didn’t think he could pitch here,” Pierce said.
Pierce, after reviewing film, had pegged Robinson as a “stock right-hander ... you see those on every corner.” But Robinson convinced his new coach to give him a shot, and Pierce began to instruct him over the phone about making an adjustment to his arm slot. Pierce had made a similar move at Sam Houston State with Alex Bisacca, who’s now playing in the New York Yankees’ farm system.
If Robinson was a clock, he’s now pitching from the 3 o’clock slot. The adjustment was initially tough, but he felt more comfortable by the time fall practices began.
Robinson also eventually stopped throwing a change-up and splitter and now just relies on his slider and sinker.
“There were some rough days, but there was also lots of promise,” Robinson said. “There were some days I’d get out there and be like ‘this is perfect, I love what I’m doing.’ Then I’d go out there the next day and it’d be the exact opposite, no clue what’s going on.”
Robinson made seven relief appearances in 2017. His role has expanded this year. During one week earlier this month, he picked up the first two victories of his career as Texas toppled McNeese State and Baylor. Northwestern, Baylor and Texas Southern are the only teams to score against him.
Robinson’s story of redemption is one of many among the juniors in the Longhorns’ bullpen. Josh Sawyer has pitched a teamhigh 19 times after injuries sidelined him for most of the 2016 and 2017 seasons. Andy McGuire wasn’t on a roster the past two seasons but leads the team with six saves.
“Whether it’s my story, Josh’s injuries or Parker Joe’s working his way into a huge role, I think we’re all kind of realizing hey, we’re able to contribute,” McGuire said. “Just enjoying that, I think, has led to some success.”
Back home in California, Robinson has left a legacy off the baseball field. He went 4-2 during his senior year at San Juan Capistrano’s JSerra High but missed a playoff game after spraining his ankle while dancing at the prom in cowboys boots. Long-time Los Angeles Times sports writer Eric Sondheimer later created “the Parker Joe Robinson rule,” which jokingly forbids Lions players from wearing cowboy boots to the prom.
Years later, Robinson can “still pride myself on my dance moves.” He has traded in his cowboy boots for dress shoes, though. The arm slot isn’t the only adjustment he’s made at Texas.