Buuck's Relief Effort Not Enough in 7-3 Defeat
June 24, 2016 - West Coast League (WCL)
Gresham GreyWolves News Release
LONGVIEW, WA. - Just 24 hours removed from a near-perfect relief performance by Rilyn Lewchuck, the Gresham GreyWolves received another stellar outing from one of its relievers on Thursday night. Junior left-hander Carter Buuck (Linfield) entered the game in the bottom of the third inning and hurled 4.2 scoreless frames for Gresham, striking out five and only allowing one hit in the process.
This time around, however, the heroics were not enough, as the Cowlitz Black Bears held on to an early 7-0 advantage for a series-winning 7-3 victory.
"We are very happy with our bullpen," said head coach Justin Barchus after the game. "Obviously, Carter's performance coming out of the bullpen was fantastic. I just wish we didn't have to use him down seven."
Those seven runs were all plated in the second and third frames by Cowlitz (8-10), forcing the GreyWolves (6-10) to press and play from behind for the remainder of the night.
Gresham started to cut into the deficit in the top half of the fourth, using RBI knocks from Stanford-signee Will Matthiessen and Southern Illinois product Ryan Smith to plate two runs. Matthiessen would also score a run himself on a wild pitch uncorked by starter Chandler Greenfield (Washington State).
Greenfield was eventually lifted from the game with the bases loaded and just one out, marking the second time in as many nights that the GreyWolves were able to chase their opponents' starting pitcher before the end of the fourth inning. His reliever was strong, however, as Akaash Agarwal (California) faced the tying run in back-to-back at-bats and retired both of them to get out of the jam.
"I thought we were better offensively tonight," Barchus said. "We had the bases loaded with just one out on two separate occasions and didn't get anything out of it. We're still coming along but I thought our offense at least gave us a chance there."
That next chance with the bases full and less than two outs came in the eighth, when Smith and Michael Breen (San Jose State) singled following a leadoff walk worked by Washington third-baseman Jack Johnson. Once again though, the Black Bear bullpen was able to escape the trouble by rolling up a taylormade double play ball.
That just about did it as Gresham was unable to get anything of substance going in the top half of the ninth. The final score was 7-3, giving Cowlitz the series victory after the GreyWolves had taken two of three from them back in the first West Coast League set of the year.
While the play of Buuck was sensational on this night, Matthiessen's output at the plate was notable as well. The recent graduate from West Linn High School was inserted into the starting lineup for the second day in a row and performed admirably, finishing the contest 2-for-4 with an RBI double.
"He has just been getting quality at-bats and it's starting to pay off," said Barchus. "That's what I am looking for right now. Will is doing a great job and I think he's starting to catch up with the speed of the game after playing in high school this spring."
With the loss, Barchus' club now finds itself four games back of first place in the South Division with just 11 games remaining in the first half of the season. The leader of the division at the halfway point clinches a spot in the playoffs, so there is not much time to waste if Gresham wants to make a run at that spot.
"We had a little Come to Jesus meeting here (after the game)," Barchus said following the defeat. "It is make or break time, at least for the first half. But we are still in it, and our guys know that."
Gresham will look to right the ship starting on Friday as it welcomes the Wenatchee AppleSox to town for a three-game series. First pitch for the series opener is set for 7:05 p.m. at Oslund Field.
West Coast League Stories from June 24, 2016
- Falcons win over BlackBears - Kelowna Falcons
- GreyWolves Look to Right Ship vs. Wenatchee in Three-Game Series - Gresham GreyWolves
- Buuck's Relief Effort Not Enough in 7-3 Defeat - Gresham GreyWolves
- Bend Denies AppleSox Sweep Bid - Wenatchee AppleSox
- Sweets Offense Lights out in 10-3 Win - Walla Walla Sweets
- Bells Bounce Back to Beat Pippins - Bellingham Bells
- Falcons Win 5-4 - Kelowna Falcons
- Pippins Bats Fall Short in Bellingham Series Finale - Yakima Valley Pippins
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