Pippins Grind out 6-3 Win over Walla Walla
July 1, 2016 - West Coast League (WCL)
Yakima Valley Pippins News Release
WALLA WALLA, WA - The Yakima Valley Pippins turned a game-winning double play in the 9th inning, escaping a bases-loaded threat from the Walla Walla Sweets, preserving a 6-3 win at Borleske Stadium on Thursday night.
Christian Koss (UC Irvine) led the Pippins finishing one hit short of the cycle with a single, double and home run (1st of the season) in consecutive at bats.
Trailing 1-0 entering the 2nd, Koss posted a 2-RBI double with two outs to give his squad the early lead. The Pippins (14-10) would add another run in the 3rd inning when Freddy Smith (Cal State Northridge) came around to score on a two base error, following a leadoff base hit, making it 3-1.
Zach Draper (College of Idaho) earned his fourth win of the season throwing 5.1 innings, working his way in and out of trouble throughout the night, finishing with seven strikeouts.
Tanner Simpson (Lewis-Clark State College) entered out of the bullpen and preserved the Pippins lead, 4-3, throwing 2.2 innings of quality relief with three strikeouts.
After the Sweets scored two runs against Draper and Simpson to cut the lead to just one, 4-3, Ryan Garcia (UCLA) delivered a 2-out RBI single up the middle. Connor Zwetsch (Oregon) issued two walks to start the 9th inning, eventually earning his second save of the season pitching one scoreless inning of relief with a strikeout.
Following Thursday night's win, the all-time series between the Pippins and Sweets is now tied 11-11 and will resume tomorrow night at 7:05 p.m. Fans can listen live to all the action on 1460 ESPN Yakima, the official home for Yakima Valley Pippins Baseball.
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West Coast League Stories from July 1, 2016
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- Pippins Grind out 6-3 Win over Walla Walla - Yakima Valley Pippins
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