Clemens to face perhaps toughest foe yet
Longhorns slugger draws pitcher oozing with confidence in Razorbacks’ Knight
OMAHA, Neb. — Back around the turn of the millennium, when the New York Mets meant something more than everlasting misery and Roger Clemens was clothed in pinstripes for the “Evil Empire” across town, one particular duel overshadowed all.
Clemens and Mets star Mike Piazza spent most of their careers in opposing leagues and faced off infrequently. But that rarity served only to make each meeting all the more enticing.
The rivalry’s two indelible moments — Piazza sprawled motionless in the dirt after taking a Clemens fastball to the head, and Clemens skipping a shattered bat at the catcher in Game 2 of the 2000 World Series — overshadowed the catcher’s success against the seven-time Cy Young winner. Piazza slashed .364/.440/.955 with four home runs and 10 RBIs against Clemens.
Eighteen years later, there’s a new conflict simmering involving a Clemens and a dominant, self-assured pitcher at the College World Series.
On Friday, ahead of Sunday’s game between Texas (42-21) and Arkansas (44-19) at TD Ameritrade Park, Razorbacks starter Blaine Knight (12-0, 2.84 ERA) was asked about facing a fellow All-American in Longhorns second baseman Kody Clemens.
“I’m going right after him,” Knight said. “I’m not scared of him. I don’t care if he’s got 24 jacks on the year or not. I’m going to make him hit my pitch. He hits it out, he hits it out. But I’ve got an offense behind me that’s going to put up more runs than he can put up by himself.
“I’m not really that worried about it. He’s a good hitter, but I’ve faced plenty of good hitters all year long. So I’m just going to go after him and execute pitches.”
Power meets power
In six postseason games, Clemens, a Memorial product, has hit .500 with five home runs and 11 RBIs. Knight has made two starts, both wins, and allowed five earned runs and nine hits across 14 innings.
Knight did not pitch in either of Arkansas’ two wins over Texas on March 13 and 14, but Texas is aware of his capabilities.
“Anybody that’s 12-0 in the SEC and nonconference play, the schedule that they’ve played, that tells you a lot about him,” Texas coach David Pierce said Friday. “But the thing is, when you face a guy like Blaine, you’re looking at a guy that not only has stuff but has plus command with four pitches. It’s hard to eliminate a pitch and sit on something and look from one side of the plate because he can do so much.
“He’s a tough challenge. And he really handles himself well, even in some adverse situations, where it seems like nothing really bothers him.”
Shutting down Clemens may be the key to slowing Texas’ offense, but he’s not the only Longhorn swinging a hot bat. Catcher D.J. Petrinsky has clubbed three homers this postseason, first baseman Jake McKenzie is up to nine hits in six games, and third baseman Ryan Reynolds has started to thaw from a cold spell with three hits and three RBIs over his last two games.
And Texas, which will start righthander Nolan Kingham (8-4, 4.34), likely will require a group effort to keep pace with Arkansas. The Razorbacks rank third nationally in homers per game (1.49), 13th in batting average (.301) and 15th in runs per game (7.2). Casey Martin, Carson Shaddy, Heston Kjestad and Eric Cole are all batting at least .329 with 13 homers.
Defense to play big role
UT’s defense, which leads the nation with 71 double plays, will be busy.
“We’re very solid on the left side of the infield with two sophomores that have played every day for two years in Ryan Reynolds and David Hamilton,” Pierce said. “And then moving Kody from third base to second and getting Ryan back to third has been very comforting for him and us. And D.J. Petrinsky has been a solid rock behind home plate for us.
“Offensively, we’re just finding ways to score. It’s not like we’ve been an incredible offensive group, but I just think it’s been a heck of a run for our kids.”
Even with all the talent and wild cards on both sides, the intrigue will still center around Clemens vs. Knight. There won’t be any wooden shards tossed, and Knight won’t go headhunting. But he will come at Clemens, and the outcome could decide who heads to the winner’s bracket.
No offense to dear old dad, but for Texas to beat Arkansas and avoid a Tuesday elimination game, Clemens might just have to be like Mike.