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WCL Walla Walla Sweets

Kerwood, Bullpen Dominate for Win

July 7, 2014 - West Coast League (WCL)
Walla Walla Sweets News Release


WALLA WALLA, Wa. - Hitless through nearly six innings against Cowlitz Black Bears starting pitcher Colton Krueger, the Walla Walla Sweets found themselves on the wrong end of yet another pitching duel.

But the Sweets broke up the no-hitter in the sixth and scored for the first time in the seventh, getting all they needed for a 4-2 victory Sunday.

After three full scoreless innings of work from Krueger and Walla Walla starter Chris Kerwood, the Black Bears struck first in the top of the fourth inning, when Seaver Whalen led off with a double, moved to third on a single by Austin Baker, and scored when Chris Iriart grounded into a double play.

With two out in the bottom of the sixth inning, Krueger had still not allowed a hit, and both teams had begun to take notice. Simply trying to keep his team in the game, Jarod Gonzales lined a single to right field to break up the no-no, and Sean Bouchard followed with another base hit, but both were left stranded when Andrew Mendenhall grounded out to third.

But the Sweets rode that momentum into the seventh, when Kevin Morgan led off with a single and moved to second when Cooper Hummel reached on an error. Kyle Nixon hit a double off the right field wall to put the Sweets on the board to tie the score at 1-1. Krueger then hung a pitch to Mikey Duarte, who drove it over the left field scoreboard for a three-run homer, his first of the season, giving the Sweets the lead 4-1.

The Black Bears would manage one run in the eighth inning against left-handers Garrett Barker and Dillon Dove, but Jay Flaa shut the door in the ninth in order to record the save and give the Sweets the series-opening win, 4-2.

Turning in his best performance on the mound of the year for the Sweets, Kerwood (1-1) made the job easy on both the bullpen and the starting lineup.

"I was feeling really good," said Kerwood, reflecting on his dominant outing. "All (my) stuff was working really well, I've been working really hard in between my starts to try and get this thing figured out, and finally it was good to see the pieces come together."

The pitcher's duel, combined with the working pace of both starting pitchers, led to the game's completion in just two hours and ten minutes, one of the shortest contests that the Sweets have been involved in all season.

The Sweets will face the Black Bears in the second game of the series Monday at 7:05 PM at Borleske Stadium.



West Coast League Stories from July 7, 2014


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