Jarrett Arakawa doesn’t lull just opposing batters to sleep. I momentarily lost focus in the middle of his subtle masterpiece Thursday at Les Murakami Stadium and forgot he’s just a sophomore.
It only seems like the University of Hawaii pitcher has been around forever, or at least three years … so don’t worry, he can’t be drafted yet and he’s got at least another season on the UH staff.
Nevada’s Braden Shipley was more impressive in some ways. You could say spectacular, as he struck out 12 Rainbows and walked none. But spectacular isn’t always what wins.
Arakawa wasn’t as flashy, but he made fewer mistakes (no big ones) and that’s what counted on this welcome-home night, and that’s why UH won 2-0. That’s why UH still has a shot at one of the top two places in the WAC and the tournament bye as the regular season comes to a close tonight and Saturday.
When Arakawa’s pitching at home, he’s what the San Antonio Spurs have been to the NBA lately. Not necessarily the shiniest, but the most effective.
He’s the perfect pitcher for this ballpark. A lefty who throws strikes and hits spots. His home ERA is 1.72.
Arakawa’s performance was exactly what UH needed coming off a four-game losing skid and with a depleted pitching staff. The Rainbows picked right up from when we last saw them here, sweeping then-first-place New Mexico State in the topsy-turvy WAC. This dead-conference-walking is certainly going out with a bang.
Arakawa allowed just five singles and a walk in eight scoreless innings. He’s not overpowering, but he kept the Wolf Pack off balance all night. Judging by the lack of line drives, it looked like Nevada was hitting with the half-price churros from the concession stand. The kids in the dizzy bat contest would have had as good a chance trying to get solid contact.
After 105 pitches of befuddling changes of speeds and locations from Arakawa, freshman Lawrence Chew finished up with a 1-2-3 ninth.
This was a new role for Arakawa, starting the first game of the series. The regular No. 1, Matt Sisto, is out with a groin injury.
Those who have followed this team know Arakawa has been a second ace; but it can be very different when you have to go up against the other guys’ No. 1.
Did he approach things differently?
"Not really. Just trying to keep everything the same," Arakawa said, but then admitted to being "definitely a little bit juiced."
The closest the Wolf Pack came to scoring was in the fifth, but Arakawa covered third as Carlos Escobar Jr., tried to take an extra base on a bunt.
"We were going to try and let it roll foul, but it kicked back in," he said. "I heard the crowd start yelling, so I turned to look and just ran (to third). It was kind of a blur."
Third baseman Collin Bennett (who drove in both of UH’s runs, one with a homer) got the ball to Arakawa in time for the tag.
The play at third was the single most eye-catching thing Jarrett Arakawa did all night.
Everything else was just what UH needed.
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Reach Dave Reardon at dreardon@staradvertiser.com or 529-4783.
