Tennessee baseball was run-ruled by Kentucky 12-2 in eight innings Saturday in Lexington to lose the series.
The Wildcats used a complete game out of starting pitcher Jaxon Jelkin and scored three or more runs in three separate innings to claim the series-clinching victory.
The Vols’ offense was lifeless for the second straight day against Kentucky starting pitching while Evan Blanco gave up three homers and the bullpen faltered.
Here’s how it happened as Tennessee lost its 13th SEC game and fifth SEC series of the season.
Offense Non-Existent as Jaxon Jelkin Throws Complete Game
Tennessee’s offense struggled mightily for the second straight day as Kentucky starter Jaxon Jelkin threw a complete game.
The righty’s breaking ball gave Tennessee fits all afternoon, leading to several of his 11 strikeouts.
Jelkin pitched all eight innings in the run-rule win, allowing just two runs on four hits while walking none.
Tennessee did not have a baserunner in the first four innings. Freshman designated hitter Trent Grindlinger slapped a leadoff double to open the fifth before Reese Chapman doubled to bring him home.
Tennessee found more momentum an inning later after Blaine Brown lifted a leadoff homer before Garrett Wright reached on a savvy bunt single, taking advantage of Kentucky’s infield playing back.
After Wright stole second, however, Henry Ford, Blake Grimmer – who struck out in every at-bat Saturday – and Grindlinger were all retired consecutively, ending the threat.
Tennessee would go down in order again in the seventh and eighth as Jelkin retired his final nine batters. Jelkin logged a whopping six 1-2-3 innings in his eight frames pitched and had stretches of 12 and nine straight retired.
Including Friday, Tennessee has tallied a mere eight hits and two runs against Kentucky’s starting pitching across 15 innings.
More From RTI: Tennessee at Kentucky Game Two LIVE Update Thread
Evan Blanco Gives Up Three Homers
Tennessee starting pitcher Evan Blanco entered Saturday’s start coming off four consecutive quality starts.
Blanco wasn’t horrible against Kentucky but gave up a trio of long balls that put Tennessee in an early hole.
Kentucky opened the scoring in the third after neither team got a hit in the first two innings. The Wildcats were responsible for the lone baserunner in the first two frames with a hit-by-pitch in the first.
In the third, Caeden Cloud poked a leadoff opposite-field homer into the Tennessee bullpen in right field. Like Friday, the Lexington wind was blowing out to right, assisting Cloud’s homer.
Blanco then hit his second batter with one out, plunking UK leadoff hitter Jayce Tharnish. Shortstop Tyler Bell made Blanco pay by punishing a two-run homer to left field, putting Kentucky ahead 3-0.
The Cats added to their lead in the fourth when designated hitter Hudson Brown crushed a no-doubt solo homer to right-center.
Blanco exited the game in the sixth after allowing back-to-back hits to open the frame.
The veteran lefty was very good at times, logging a pair of 1-2-3 innings on less than 10 pitches in his outing. But the three long balls allowed Kentucky to mount a comfortable lead it would not relinquish.
Bullpen Falters
Tennessee head coach Josh Elander turned to righty Brayden Krenzel in a big moment in the sixth with runners on the corners and no outs. Kentucky had controlled the game, but the Vols only trailed by two. The game was still in the balance.
Krenzel has been an unreliable relief arm for Tennessee all year but has stacked a few solid outings the past couple of weeks, mostly in midweek games.
Krenzel couldn’t come through for Tennessee in the big spot, walking his first batter to load the bases before hitting his next batter to bring in a run.
Freshman righty Ethan Baiotto would then relieve Krenzel and did a nice job of getting consecutive ground balls. The first scored a run, but the second should’ve been an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play.
However, a poor Blake Grimmer throw prevented Tennessee from turning two, and a run came across as a result.
Kentucky scored four more runs in the seventh to put the game out of reach. Ethan Hindle took Baiotto deep for a one-out solo homer before Will Haas gave up a two-run double and fired a wild pitch to bring Kentucky’s 11th run home.
The Wildcats walked it off in the eighth with a Luke Lawrence single off Brady Frederick after Tyler Bell hit a leadoff double against Haas.
The Tennessee bullpen collectively allowed six runs in three innings, walked one, hit two and struck out none.
Bullpen struggles have been a theme for Tennessee this season, but UT’s top bullpen arms Cam Appenzeller, Brandon Arvidson and Bo Rhudy have mostly delivered good outings when called upon. The fact none pitched in the sixth with the game still in the balance was surprising.
Box Score
Up Next
Tennessee will look to salvage the series Sunday in Lexington. First pitch is at 1 p.m. ET on SEC Network +. Tennessee was expected to win this series considering Kentucky hadn’t won a series since opening weekend of conference play. The Vols must win Sunday.
