WCL Walla Walla Sweets

Late Scare Not Enough to Overcome Sweets in 6-5 Win

Published on July 23, 2014 under West Coast League (WCL)
Walla Walla Sweets News Release


MEDFORD, Or. - Less than twenty-four hours after rain canceled the 2014 West Coast League all-star game in Klamath Falls, it threatened the beginning of Tuesday's contest between the Walla Walla Sweets and the Medford Rogues.

But once the skies cleared, the two clubs engaged in a see-saw battle that saw the Sweets come out on top, 6-5, at Harry and David Field in Medford.

With two out in the top of the 1st inning, Andrew Mendenhall singled. Mike Paulson followed with a walk, and Kyle Nixon drove Mendenhall home with a line-drive single into right field, giving the Sweets an early one-run lead.

Chris Kerwood tossed two solid innings on the mound for the Sweets, but ran into trouble in the 3rd. With two out, Yuto Kata singled, and Christian Cox followed with a walk. The Rogues then took a 2-1 lead on back-to-back RBI singles by Nathan Etheridge and Clayton Meyer.

Kerwood, however, would only last three and two-thirds innings, allowing three runs on five hits while walking six and striking out only two. Omar Porras (2-2) entered with two out and the bases loaded in the 4th and recorded the final out via a popout, and would go on to hurl two more scoreless innings.

"When I was warming up I threw (only) three pitches off the mound (in the bullpen)," said Porras of his early and sudden entrance to the game. "And then I came right in. I wasn't expecting it, but I'm glad I was able to do my job and help out the team."

The Sweets would tie the score on a Kevin Morgan RBI single in the top of the 4th, but the Rogues retook the lead 3-2 in the bottom half on an run-scoring base hit by Spencer Smith.

Neither team scored in the 5th, but the Sweets retook the lead once again in the 6th on a sacrifice fly by Morgan and a Meford fielding error. Additionally, they would later pad their lead to 6-3 on a two-RBI triple by Mikey Duarte in the 8th.

Matt Majors and Jesse Houser pitched the 7th and 8th innings for the Sweets, respectively, with both allowing two hits but no runs.

Working with a three-run lead, Jay Flaa took over on the mound for Walla Walla to begin the 9th. But after Cox led off the inning with a home run, Flaa struggled with his command. Two walks and a base hit loaded the bases with one out, and pinch-hitter Forrest Garcia drew the third walk of the inning, forcing home a run and placing the tying run on third base. But Flaa was able to induce a popout and a strikeout, escaping the jam and and handing the Sweets the 6-5 series-opening win.

The win puts the Sweets (19-18) back at one game over .500 and again tied for second place in the East division, three games out of first place.

Starter Brandon Erickson took the loss for the Rogues, allowing four runs on eight hits over six innings of work. He received little help from his defense, which committed five errors in the game.

The Sweets will face the Rogues in the second game of the series at Harry and David Field Wednesday at 6:35 PM.

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



West Coast League Stories from July 23, 2014


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central