Gems Rally Late For 10-9 Victory
June 15, 2014 - West Coast League (WCL)
Yakima Valley Pippins News Release
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - The Klamath Falls Gems rallied for three runs in the bottom of the 8th inning, to claim a 10-9 victory over the Yakima Valley Pippins Saturday afternoon at Kiger Stadium.
Defense was the issue early for Yakima Valley, which committed six errors in Sunday's contest, leading to eight unearned runs. The Gems took advantage of two of those errors in the first, both committed by starting pitcher Mitch Yada, to gain an early 2-0 advantage.
The Pippins tied the game at 2 in the top of the 3rd on Randy Fuller's 2-run double, but the Gems countered back. Behind a pair of throwing errors, Klamath Falls picked up a run in both the 3rd and the 4th innings.
JC Snyder drove in another run in the 5th to make it 4-3, but the Gems got a pair of unearned runs back in the bottom of the frame on a throwing error by Taylor Snyder to make it 6-4.
After 7 innings of play, the Gems held a 7-4 lead, but the Pippins would rally. Yakima Valley got seven of the first eight men on in the top of the 8th inning, scoring five to take a 9-7 lead.
"It's nice to continue to fight and take a lead," said Pippins Manager Marcus McKimmy. "It's a game of momentum and we were able to put up a big number there. And unfortunately, every time we scored, they also scored in the bottom half all night. That's no way to keep momentum and that's not a recipe for success."
After having the leadoff man retired in the 8th, the Gems put four consecutive runners on base against reliever Connor Lau and tied the game at 9, before Ethan Schlect's ground ball deep in the hole at 3rd was partially mishandled, allowing the go-ahead run to score.
"I told them 'when you get tired of losing, you'll start winning', " said McKimmy. "We just aren't doing the things that are necessary, that all baseball players are taught to do from little league."
Yakima Valley, though unable to win consecutive games for the first time this season, still has a chance at its first series win Monday night at 6:35 p.m. in the rubber match of the three-game series. Eli Morgan will make his first start of the season for the Pippins against Michael Brinska.
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West Coast League Stories from June 15, 2014
- HarbourCats Win Series in Bend, Head Home - Victoria HabourCats
- Gems Rally Late For 10-9 Victory - Yakima Valley Pippins
- Falcons Drop Two on Saturday - Kelowna Falcons
- Elks lose 4-1 - Bend Elks
- Fourth Straight Comeback Win Falls Short - Bellingham Bells
- Walla Walla loses 13-3 - Walla Walla Sweets
- HarbourCats Remain Stingy, Win Second Game in Bend - Victoria HabourCats
- Pippins Turn In Complete Performance In 10-0 Win Over Gems - Yakima Valley Pippins
- Elks Drop Another Game to Victoria - Bend Elks
- Rogues' Win Streak Reaches Six - Medford Rogues
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