FORT WORTH — He doesn’t normally do this, but Jim Schlossnagle started his postgame remarks Friday night with a little kidding around.
First, background: Nick Lodolo delivered another gem, striking out eight in seven strong innings to lead TCU to a 7-4 victory against Oklahoma State at Lupton Stadium. For the second consecutive week, it meant a series-opening victory against a Big 12 opponent. For the fifth consecutive Friday night, the Frogs won. And for the sixth consecutive outing, the junior left-hander went seven innings or better.
So, the TCU coach was asked, how much peace does Lodolo (4-2) provide on Friday nights these days?
He paused, then offered: “We pretty much have the same reaction after every Tuesday game. Coach Saarloos and I look at each other and say, ‘Yay, Nick gets to pitch now.’ ”
The veteran field boss chuckled in spite of himself. That’s what an ace will do for a college baseball coach. He can enjoy a Friday night.
“He was pretty special against a good offensive team,” Schlossnagle said.
That’s getting to be routine. The pitcher from Laverne, Calif., allowed just a couple of unearned runs in seven innings against the Cowboys, striking out eight and walking one with one hit batter. Last week, Lodolo allowed only a run in eight innings of a no-decision against Texas, a game that the Horned Frogs won with a ninth-inning rally.
He’s also handled Grand Canyon, Houston, Long Beach State and Michigan with little trouble. Only in five innings against Cal State Fullerton in the season opener did he fail to strikeout at least eight or go seven.
After Friday night, his ERA dropped to 1.12 in 48 innings. The team record for a season is more than 50 years old — 1.11 by Tommy Gramly in 1966.
“I love playing defense behind Lodolo,” said shortstop Adam Oviedo, who helped his teammate with a three-run homer in the second inning. “I get maybe a few ground balls. Because most of the guys swing and miss. I really enjoy him. Great guy as well. Great personality. That makes him so much better of a ballplayer.”
It makes the Frogs (17-7, 3-1) a better team and gives them a better chance to win a series. Just look to last week. Winning Game 1 in an ace-versus-ace matchup set up the weekend. TCU absorbed a bad start on Saturday and won the series on Sunday.
This week, Schlossnagle has yet to name a Saturday starter.
“When you have an ace like Lodolo and the rest of your pitching staff is yet to be determined, you really need to win that Friday night game when he’s pitching so well.”
What is Lodolo doing so well?
In his words, “putting up zeroes.” In action, busting sliders, pumping fastballs and spinning breaking balls.
“Fourth through the sixth innings were my strongest innings,” Lodolo said. “All three pitches were working, especially from the beginning. Toward the end, started just ramming fastballs in there.”
By the time he reached the seventh inning, Lodolo had a 6-0 lead. An error at second allowed two unearned runs to score with two out. But that was it. Cal Coughlin gave up two in the eighth, and Marcelo Perez recorded his fourth save with a three-strikeout ninth.
“Zeroes, that’s the biggest thing,” Lodolo said. “In the seventh, I kind of created my own situation. After two hits, I hit a guy. Other than that, it was good. Put up zeroes.”
Also, radiate confidence. When Lodolo takes the mound these days, the Frogs know what they’re getting.
“He looks like a pro,” Oviedo said. “He looks like he’s been there before. That’s what’s great about him, why I love playing behind him. As a defense, we run off the pitcher. If the pitcher’s confident, we’re confident.”
How long till Friday?
