Trojans Snap 9-Game Losing Streak Against UCLA

Timmy Robinson wasn’t on the roster the last time USC defeated crosstown rival UCLA. He was still in high school. But the sophomore outfielder blasted a three-run homer in the first inning to help the Trojans end a nine-game losing streak to their crosstown rivals with a 10-0 victory Thursday night at Jackie Robinson Stadium. USC (22-17, 10-9) jumped on UCLA ace James Kaprielian for four first-inning runs and rode that until it was able to bust the game open in the late innings.

But all the Trojans really needed was one run. Wyatt Strahan pitched around some jams for another strong outing. The big-bodied junior didn’t allow a run in eight innings to push his current scoreless streak to 20 innings, lowering his ERA from 4.63 to 3.42.

Strahan talks about developing into a true front-of-the-rotation Pac-12 pitcher and how he was feeling after a complete team win over the rival Bruins.

USC head coach Dan Hubbs talks about the Trojans’ win and Strahan’s back-to-back brilliant outings that have seen him pitch out of early jams and then throw up zero after zero on the scoreboard:

UCLA sophomore James Kaprielian struggled with his command in the first inning and USC took advantage. A walk, hit by pitch and wild pitch put a pair of runners in scoring position for Jake Hernandez, who flared one to right field to put the Trojans ahead 1-0.

Kaprielian got a big strikeout with runners on the corners, but Robinson laced a fastball over the left-centerfield wall for a three-run line drive home run — Robinson’s first of the season.

And here’s another angle thanks to Chance Moore:

UCLA (22-17, 9-7) had an opportunity to cut into the lead when Strahan also struggled with his command in the opening frame, walking the leadoff batter on four pitches and later hitting Luke Persico to load the bases. But Strahan dropped in a beautiful curveball on the outer half to freeze Christoph Bono to end the threat.

The Bruins had a runner reach second base in the third, fifth, sixth and eighth innings, but finished the game 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position.

Head coach John Savage talks about the loss, the Bruins’ inability to get a clutch hitting and what Kaprielian has to do to take the next developmental step:

The Trojans added a run against Kaprielian in the seventh inning when Dante Flores bounced one up the middle to score Hernandez. USC blew the game open with five runs in the top of the ninth inning, highlighted by a bases-loaded double down the third base line by Vahn Bozoian.

Hernandez led the Trojans’ 13-hit attack, finishing 3-for-5 with a run and two RBI. Garrett Stubbs added two hits, two runs and a stolen base. For UCLA, Luke Persico, who was held out of Tuesday’s game with a bad bad, had two of the team’s five hits.

After the game, Timmy Robinson talked about the offensive outburst and defeating the Bruins for the first time in his career.

Check out CBD photographer Shotgun Spratling’s top shots from Thursday night:

[scrollGallery id=283]