Adams' Blast Leads GreyWolves to 9-8 Victory
July 13, 2016 - West Coast League (WCL)
Gresham GreyWolves News Release
GRESHAM, Ore. - With two outs and two men on for the Gresham GreyWolves, UC Santa Barbara product Josh Adams knew his pitch was coming.
"With the runners being where they were with two outs, I knew I was going to get something down the middle of the plate," said Adams after the fact. "I just wanted to be on time and get my hands through it."
Adams ended up getting his hands, arms, and the rest of his body through the third pitch he saw from reliever Blake Hannah. The result was a towering shot that came screaming off the slugger's bat, easily clearing the ivy-covered wall in right field.
Adams' three-run blast put Gresham (6-1, 17-17 overall) in front 9-8 over the visiting Victoria HarbourCats, a score that would hold through the long game's final three innings. The win was the team's sixth in their last seven games.
This game didn't get off to an ideal start for the GreyWolves as Victoria (2-2, 25-6) plated two runs in the top of the first and another four in the second. Gresham was able to get a pair of runs back in the first thanks to a two-RBI triple off the bat of Ryan Smith (Southern Illinois), but the club still trailed 6-2 heading into the third.
It was in that third inning when head coach Justin Barchus' team went on a little 4-0 run of their own. Taking advantage of a wild pitch, a passed ball, and a fielding error by the HarbourCats second basemen, the score was 6-3 after three innings and back even at 6-6 through four full.
"I think we developed that mindset on the road (this past week)," Barchus said when asked about the team's recent string of comebacks. "We just have that mindset where we are always in the game, whether we're down 6-2, 6-0, or whatever it may be."
That mindset would come into play again later in the game after the visitors from British Columbia reclaimed an 8-6 advantage. With one out already in the books in the bottom of the sixth, a patient approach at the plate allowed both Dylan Doherty and Konnor Zickefoose to reach base without putting the ball in play. Ryan Rodriguez was unable to take advantage of the two-on with one out situation, so it was up to Adams to do something big.
The cleanup hitter did just that, hitting his first home run of the season at quite possibly the best time. Adams would finish the night 2-for-4 at the plate with four RBIs, marking the best game of a recent hot stretch for the junior from California.
"My college team was playing for a while so it took me some time to adjust to a wood bat," says Adams, whose Gauchos ended up advancing all the way to the College World Series last month. "Eventually I found my groove though. My rhythm is there and I'm making some good swings."
Adams' homer gave his team a 9-8 lead, one that would hold up as relievers Carter Buuck (Linfield) and Michael Clark (Cal Poly) cruised through the final three frames. Buuck (1-2) earned the win for his performance out of the bullpen, while Clark picked up his third save of the summer.
The GreyWolves have now won six of their first seven games to start the second half of the West Coast League season. The hot start has them in first place in the South Division with a full game lead over second-place Yakima Valley.
"We're doing things right," Adams said after the latest victory. "Winning is fun so we obviously want to keep that up."
Gresham will look to continue its winning ways tomorrow as the team looks to clinch a series win against visiting Victoria. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. back at Oslund Field.
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West Coast League Stories from July 13, 2016
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