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WCL Walla Walla Sweets

Pippins Prevent Sweets Sweep

July 3, 2014 - West Coast League (WCL)
Walla Walla Sweets News Release


YAKIMA, Wa. - Receiving his first starting assignment of the season, Walla Walla Sweets left-hander Dillon Dove showed signs of promise against the Yakima Valley Pippins' lineup.

But while struggling off and on with his command, he lacked ample support both offensively and defensively, and the Pippins avoided the series sweep by beating Walla Walla, 7-2.

For the first time in the series, the Pippins drew first blood. Dove walked Ryan Rosa to lead off the bottom of the first inning, allowed a single to Mitch Skaggs, and then let fly a wild pitch that moved both runners into scoring position, allowing Reid Martinez to bring Rosa home on a sacrifice fly to center field.

Kevin Morgan, though, drew a one-out walk in the top of the second against Yakima Valley starter Eli Morgan. After a flyout, J.J. Robinson drove a pitch to the wall in right-center, scoring Morgan from first and tying the score, 1-1.

The Sweets manufactured another run in the third. John Skrbec reached first base on a throwing error, and Jarod Gonzales followed with a walk. Sean Bouchard flied out, and Andrew Mendenhall grounded into a fielder's choice, moving Skrbec to third. Kyle Nixon singled Skrbec home, giving the Sweets the 2-1 lead. But not only would it be Walla Walla's last time in the lead- it would also be their final run scored in the game.

Two singles and a fielding error loaded the bases for the Pippins in the bottom of the fourth, and Dove surrendered a walk to tie the score. He would work out of the jam without allowing another run, but the Pippins were not to be overmatched, taking the lead in the bottom of the fifth. Dove retired the first two batters, but J.C. Snyder doubled and Taylor Snider drove him home with a single, moving to second base on the throw to home plate. Sean Wardian followed with a ground-rule double to right field, scoring Snider and knocking Dove out of the game with the score 4-2.

Omar Porras came in from the bullpen to record the final out of the inning, but was also erratic in the sixth inning, giving the Pippins an extra run. Brian Greisman was the same way in the eighth inning, allowing the seventh and final Yakima Valley run of the evening after pitching a perfect seventh.

On the mound for the Pippins, Morgan was brilliant through six innings, allowing just two runs on four hits while using control and finesse to strike out five batters while walking three. And two relievers- Matt Trask and Kelly Fitzpatrick- held the Sweets scoreless through the final three innings, combining to for six strikeouts and allowing just one hit during that span.

Meanwhile, Dove (0-3) yielded five runs on eight hits to the Pippins, while walking two and striking out two, taking the loss.

"He had some issues commanding his off speed stuff, ultimately leading to counts where he had no other option other than to throw his fastball," said manager J.C. Biagi of Dove's struggles."He's a guy that needs his changeup and breaking ball to be where he wants them, espeially over the duration of a start where you're looking to get through the opposing order a few times."

No Sweets player collected more than one hit, and the lineup's production dropped sharply after scoring no fewer than five runs in any of the previous three games.

Reflecting on the offense's shortcomings, Biagi said, "We simply failed to make any adjustments offensively. (Eli) Morgan was all around the strike zone all night with his breaking ball and changeup and only provided a few fastball opportunities."

"Sometimes as a hitter you have to shift your approach from what you want to what you're likely to get. Tonight we sat back and waited for the fastball to show up at the belt, and it just didn't."

The Sweets return home to Borleske Stadium Thursday, playing the Pippins at 7:05 PM in the first of a three-game series.

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