Gems drop opener
July 23, 2011 - West Coast League (WCL)
Klamath Falls Gems News Release
KLAMATH FALLS, OR. - The Walla Walla Sweets came into Kiger Stadium on Friday night with bats in hand to face the Klamath Falls Gems on Herald & News mini-bat night, taking the first game of a three-game series by an 8-3 final. The largest crowd in West Coast League history was on hand, with 4,156 Gems fans shattering Corvallis's 2009 record of 3,506.
In the first inning the Sweets sent up seven hitters, scoring four runs and taking a lead they would not relinquish. Walla Walla put up two more insurance runs in the fifth inning. Denver Chavez (Cal Poly SLO) led off the inning with a walk, and scored after two straight singles and a bases-loaded walk. The 6-0 deficit was too much for the Gems to overcome, though Klamath Falls did score three runs in the seventh inning.
Starting pitcher for the Sweets, Tim Culligan (Nevada Reno), pitched a strong six innings. Culligan only gave up one hit and struck out six, and faced 21 Gems batters, moving to 4-3, 1.21 on the season. Gems starting pitcher Bryan Clough (UC Irvine) only lasted four and two-thirds innings, despite striking out seven Sweets and only giving up five hits. Clough walked five and gave up three earned runs. He dropped to 1-2, 3.62 on the year. Gems CF Rich Sanguinetti (U. Nebraska) extended his hitting streak to six straight games. Tomorrow night's game starts at 7:05 p.m. as Walla Walla and the Gems will face off in the middle game of the series.
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West Coast League Stories from July 23, 2011
- Wenatchee beats Elks 8-1 Saturday - Bend Elks
- Black Bears Lose to Corvallis, Big Crowd at Home - Cowlitz Black Bears
- Four-Run First, Culligan Too Much For Gems - Walla Walla Sweets
- Gems shatter attendance record - Klamath Falls Gems
- Gems drop opener - Klamath Falls Gems
- Black Bears Walding Hits HR - Cowlitz Black Bears
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