Pippins Miss Scoring Opportunities In 3-1 Loss
July 4, 2014 - West Coast League (WCL)
Yakima Valley Pippins News Release
WALLA WALLA, Wash. - The Yakima Valley Pippins struggled at the plate Friday afternoon, resulting in a 3-1 defeat at the hands of the Walla Walla Sweets at Borleske Stadium.
The Pippins (17-11 overall, 14-9 West Coast League) had an early scoring opportunity, with Shawn Wardian walking to start the ballgame, before an errant pick off throw advanced him to 3 rd base with nobody out. However, the next three hitters were retired to keep the Pippins off the board.
After going down in order against Pippins starter Beau Kerns in the 1 st inning, the Sweets got on the board in the 2 nd. Jordan Frabasilio's leadoff single preceded a two-run home run for Kevin Morgan to put the Sweets (9-14) up 2-0.
The Pippins countered with a run of their own in the top of the 3 rd on a Shawn Wardian groundout that scored Ryan Yamane, who had tripled with one out.
Kerns allowed another run in the bottom of the 3 rd on a wild pitch to make it 3-1, but that was the end of his struggles. Kerns, and relievers Kelly Fitzpatrick and Connor Lau, only allowed one Sweets base runner to reach in the final 4 1/3 innings. That runner was Morgan, who was hit by a pitch, but picked off by Kerns one pitch later.
While the pitching settled in, the bats could not get in a rhythm against Sweets starter Conner O'Neil, or any of the three relievers used by the Sweets. The Pippins had a runner at third base five different innings Friday, but only scored once. In total, the Pippins finished 0-11 with an RBI when hitting with the bases loaded. Their best chance came in the 9 th, when they loaded the bases with nobody out, but the next three hitters were retired to end the game.
The Pippins go for a series win Saturday night in Walla Walla with first pitch for 7:05 p.m. and Austin Woodward set to start the game for Yakima Valley.
West Coast League Stories from July 4, 2014
- Rogues Drop Extra Inning Thriller - Medford Rogues
- Pippins Miss Scoring Opportunities In 3-1 Loss - Yakima Valley Pippins
- Sweets Edged in Extras - Walla Walla Sweets
- Pippins Prevail Over Sweets In 10 Innings - Yakima Valley Pippins
- No-Hitter Highlights Rogues' Win - Medford Rogues
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