Knights Rally For 5-4 Win Over Pippins
June 13, 2014 - West Coast League (WCL)
Yakima Valley Pippins News Release
CORVALLIS, Ore. - The Yakima Valley Pippins fell victim to another late comeback Thursday night, as the Corvallis Knights used a 3-run 8th inning to win 5-4 at Goss Stadium.
A pitcher's duel broke out early between Yakima Valley's Andrew Woods and Corvallis' Harrison McGhee. Woods didn't allow a hit until the 4th inning, but did surrender a run in the 3rd after issuing one of his three walks on the night.
The Pippins broke through against McGhee, who allowed just one hit in the first five innings, in the top of the 6th, scoring 4 runs to take a 4-1 lead. Taylor Snyder provided the big hit in the inning, a 3-run double, to get the Pippins on the board. A wild pitch by reliever Jackson Lockwood helped bring home the 4th run.
Woods made it through seven innings Wednesday, but once he was gone, the Knights got to work against reliever Kelly Fitzpatrick. After striking out the first hitter, Michael Lucarelli, Fitzpatrick walked Kevin Kline, who took 2nd base on a wild pitch.
Then, defensive mistakes returned to haunt the Pippins again. Left fielder Tim Hergert and center fielder Jake Roberts collided on a fly ball from Joe Duffin that helped bring home Kline. Then, with Duffin on 3rd, Taylor Snyder threw wide to home after fielding a ground ball from Marc Gallegos, trying to throw out Duffin. Gallegos took 2nd base on the play and would score one pitch later after Jackson Soto grounded out to 1st. Gallegos never stopped at 3rd and was able to score the go-ahead run. He was initially called out, but the umpires overturned the call after a quick conference determined that catcher Mike Ramos didn't have secure possession of the ball when he applied the tag on Gallegos.
"[Fitzpatrick] came in and did his job," said Pippins manager Marcus McKimmy. "Unfortunately, you've gotta play well for nine innings. In this case, we didn't play well for eight innings and it cost us tonight."
Joey Wise came on in the 9th and overcame a 2-out single from Jake Roberts to close out the win. The two teams go head-to-head for the final time this season in the rubber match tomorrow night at 6:40 p.m. with Collin Nord getting the start for the Pippins.
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