WCL Corvallis Knights

Knights Rally for 7-6 Win

Published on August 8, 2012 under West Coast League (WCL)
Corvallis Knights News Release


KLAMATH FALLS - The Corvallis Knights scored five runs with two outs in the top of the ninth on Tuesday to edge Klamath Falls 7-6 in a West Coast League game that put a serious crimp in the Gems' playoff hopes.

Corvallis (31-21 WCL, 36-21 overall) trailed 6-2 starting the ninth before mounting its improbable comeback. It was aided by two wild pitches and an error as the Gems defense collapsed.

Chris Rabago reached first on third-strike wild pitch to lead off. But reliever Nathan Bunch retired the next two hitters and the Gems were one out away from what would have been a crucial victory.

However, Nate Roberts doubled to drive home Rabago to trim the lead to 6-3. Marc Gallegos singled to score Roberts to make it 6-4, and Caleb Whalen singled to move Gallegos to second.

Nick Torres, who led the Knights with four hits, then singled home Gallegos to bring the Knights within 6-5. Whalen stopped at second but both runners moved up on a wild pitch by reliever Brian Clough with pinch-hitter Greg Mahle at bat.

Whalen and Torres then sprinted home with the tying and go-ahead runs when catcher Chris Barnett dropped a third-strike pitch to Mahle and then threw wildly attempting to retire him at first base.

Knights closer Taylor Starr gave up two hits and had a wild pitch in the ninth. But he fanned Connor George for the final out, stranding Gems at second and third.

Corvallis has won six games in a row and 8 of its last 9 to build a six-game lead in the West Division.

The stunned Gems (25-27) dropped into a second-place tie with Cowlitz (25-27) in their battle for the West Division's second and final playoff spot. The runner-up will join the top-seeded Knights in the divisional playoffs, which start this weekend.

Klamath Falls roughed up Corvallis starter Max Beatty for four runs on four straight two-out hits in the second inning. They scored again in the third to build a 5-0 lead, and once more in the sixth for a 6-1 edge before the Knights rallied.

The Knights rested starters Mahle, Dane Lund and Connor Hofmann one night after clinching their sixth-straight division title.

Roberts singled, doubled and drove in two and Gallegos singled twice, scored twice and drove in a run for the Knights.

Game 3 in the series is at 7:05 p.m. Wednesday. Lefty Antonio Gonzales (0-0, 3.00) of UC Riverside will start for the Knights, opposed by Albany native Jeremy Burright (1-5, 3.06), a right-hander from Portland.

The best-of-3 West Division playoffs are scheduled to start on Saturday. However, if the Knights play the Gems the series will start on Friday, since they are already in Klamath Falls. Saturday will be a travel day and the series will resume in Corvallis on Sunday and on Monday, if necessary.

Cowlitz has the tie-breaker over Klamath Falls should the teams finish with identical records. If Cowlitz finishes second, Friday is a travel day and the Knights will start the divisional playoffs at Longview on Saturday night.

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West Coast League Stories from August 8, 2012


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