Pippins Come up Short in Series Finale
June 16, 2015 - West Coast League (WCL)
Yakima Valley Pippins News Release
YAKIMA, Wash. - For the third time in as many games, the Pippins tried to stage a 9th inning rally. However, the late push fell short, and the Pippins dropped Monday's rubber match to the Walla Walla Sweets, 5-4.
The Pippins got on the board early, using a two-run single from Sunday's hero, Reid Martinez, to take a 2-0 lead in the 1st inning against Walla Walla starter Jeider Rincon.
Rincon and Pippins starter Josh Nashed got locked in a pitcher's duel over the next few innings, as both had stretches in which they retired nine straight batters. Nashed's streak came to an end with two outs in the top of the 5th after a throwing error by shortstop Jace Van De Brake. The inning continued and the Sweets cashed in, using a two-out walk and a two-run double to tie the game at 2.
Van De Brake gave the Pippins the lead back in the bottom of the 5th with an RBI single to left, but the Sweets had another response. They scored two more runs against Nashed in the 6th, keyed by RBI singles from Juan Gamez and Connor Kopach to take a 4-3 lead.
Walla Walla added an insurance run in the top of the 9th, which proved to be important. The Pippins got a one-out double from Branson Trube and scored on a two-out RBI single from Van De Brake to make it 5-4 Sweets. However, Alex Guenette grounded out to end the threat.
The Pippins dropped the series to Walla Walla, marking their first series loss of the season. All three of Yakima Valley's losses this season have been by one run. The Pippins hit the road again, traveling to Corvallis, Oregon Tuesday-Thursday for a three-game series with the Knights (5-4). First pitch from Goss Stadium is set for 6:40 pm for all three games, and the action can be heard live on 1460 ESPN Yakima.
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West Coast League Stories from June 16, 2015
- Rogues Fall in Game One against AppleSox - Medford Rogues
- Hechtner, Rincon Lead Sweets to Series Win over Pippins - Walla Walla Sweets
- Pippins Come up Short in Series Finale - Yakima Valley Pippins
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