Gators right-hander Aaron Rhodes delivers a timely performance on eve of Senior Day
Saturday, May 16, 2015 | Baseball, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Aaron Rhodes had a very specific task Friday night.
The fourth-year junior from Venice (Fla.) High, one of three Gators to be honored at today's final regular-season game as part of Senior Day, was summoned from the bullpen by head coach Kevin O'Sullivan to keep the game close.
Auburn scored three runs in the third inning and threatened to win on back-to-back nights at McKethan Stadium to put a damper on the start of the postseason for the Gators.
Rhodes replaced starter A.J. Puk (3 ⅓ IP, 3 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 6 SO) with a runner on and one out in the top of the fourth. The ballpark seemed on the verge of a nap.
Rhodes needed 24 pitches to get two outs to end the inning, but no runs scored. And then in the bottom of the inning, the Gators scored three times to tie the game and energize the crowd.
Pete Alonso singled up the middle to score Josh Tobias with the tying run, and Alonso's sacrifice fly in the sixth proved the game-winner in Florida's 4-3 comeback win.
Rhodes, who has bounced back and forth from spot starter to long reliever in his UF career, played a crucial role on this night. He earned his eighth career win by limiting Auburn to one hit over 3 ⅔ scoreless innings. Rhodes retired nine consecutive batters during one stretch.
“It means a lot, especially on Senior Day to go out and do that for everybody on the team,'' he said. “It's crazy to think that my career is almost over here at Florida. It was exciting to go out there and throw up a few zeros and keep the team in it.”
Friday night's outing was Rhodes' most important of the season as Florida continues to jockey for position in next week's SEC Tournament. Vanderbilt's victory Friday night clinched the SEC East for the Commodores -- Florida is two back with one to play -- but the Gators want to head into the SEC Tournament in the right frame of mind.
“He did an awesome job. He was nails,'' said Alonso. “That's all I've got to say. He did a really good job of picking up A.J. At this point in the season that's what we need to do, find a way to get outs, find a way to manufacture runs, because at this point in the year it's imperative that we win. We want to have home-field advantage.”
Rhodes threw 57 pitches, 37 for strikes. He struck out three and walked one. In 14 appearances, Rhodes' only other victory came April 18 in a one-inning relief outing at Mississippi State.
His approach was simple.
“Get early outs to keep my pitch count down,” Rhodes said. “I feel pretty comfortable coming out of the pen just because I have experience. If they need me to start, I'll start, I'll do whatever it takes to win. I don't care.”
Unless he makes a surprise appearance today, in his final regular-season appearance for the Gators, task accomplished for Aaron Rhodes.
