A Pickles Sweep Feels So Sweet
WALLA WALLA, Wash. (July 3, 2024) – The Portland Pickles (20-8) felt pretty sweet to win their fifth straight series of the year, and their fifth in a row on the road over the Walla Walla Sweets (9-20). The Pickles would outscore the Sweets 20-7, and use some great efforts out of the bullpen and starting pitchers to guide them through the series.
The Pickles now own the longest current winning streak (5 games ) in the WCL, and have the second most wins (20) in the league. Winners of eight of their last ten, the Pickles recorded their second sweep of the season, and have only lost one series this season. The Pickles sit two games behind the first half south division winners Corvallis Knights (21-5), but lead a comfortable four games ahead of the Bend Elks (15-11). A reminder, the first and second half division winners of the North and South will earn an automatic bid to the WCL Playoffs. If the playoffs were today, the Pickles would clinch the playoffs. This is because of the Pickles being the second best team in the division, but the Knights had already clinched the first playoff spot from the South division.
GAME 1:
The Pickles scored in six of nine innings, totaling 14 hits en route to a 12-4 victory over the Sweets in game one. Three runs in the first and last inning would help the Pickles lineup feel in control all night, and gave their defense confidence with no errors in the field for the third game in a row. The Sweets did not do themselves any favors, as they committed three errors in the field, with two in the sixth inning. A two run eighth inning was as much of a rally as the Sweets had, as they totaled only one walk in the game and only had five runners left on base.
It was the Smith show on the mound, as Dylan Smith (Northern Colorado) and Ben Smith (GCU) combined for seven innings, allowing two runs on six hits, with five strikeouts and only walking one Sweets hitter. Left-hander Ben Smith (GCU) came in the fifth inning and threw for three strong innings facing one batter past the minimum while earning the win.
On the offensive side, the Pickles lineup had five hitters with a multi-hit game, and two with a three-hit game (Keighran and Harries). They would also dominate on the bases with five different Pickles recording a stolen base (Christiansen, Gouveia, Griffith, Otis, and Harries). Starting first baseman and leadoff man Patrick Keighran (San Francisco) belted his second home run of the season in the ninth inning, en route to a three hit game. Keigrhan would also add two doubles, two HBP, and total four RBI in the game. Keighran has recorded a home run in back to back games and seven total hits in the last three games. Starting second baseman Tyler Harries (San Francisco) recorded three singles on three runs and added a walk. First baseman Kevin Ferguson (Hawaii) would add two singles of his own, adding a walk and three RBI. It was the sixth game of the season where the Pickles have won by eight more runs, and would inch them closer to their sixth straight series win, and their fourth road series win for the season.
GAME 2:
The bats on both ends were quiet until the 10th inning. A leadoff double from second baseman Alex Gouveia (UC Davis) would start the 10th inning off for the Pickles. A single from right fielder Tanner Giffith (St. Marys) would push Gouveia to third and have runners on the corners with no outs. Two more singles in the inning from designated hitter Tyler Harries (San Francisco) and catcher Connor Stewart would give the Pickles the two run lead as we moved to the bottom of the 10th.
The Sweets would not go away, as a pair of singles with one out would bring the winning run to the plate. Right-hander Josiah Shipley (Clackamas CC) would come in to close it out for the Pickles with one out. The Sweets would put one on the board before an intentional walk would load the bases. Shipley would however make quick work with a strikeout and a fly out to right field to secure the 2-1 victory and the series win.
The Pickles would have four players record multi-hit games (Gouveia, Griffith, Harries, and Stewart). First baseman Patrick Keighran (San Francisco) would record two HBP, and a single as well. In his second start of the season right-hander Justin Santiago (St. Marys) would throw for a season high 5.0 innings, giving up no runs on just two hits, and adding a pair of strikeouts. Right-hander Ryder Edwards (George Fox) would record his second win of the season, with Josiah Shipley (Clackamas CC) earning his second save of the season.
The Sweets would leave nine runners on base, and only score one run in the game on three Pickles’ errors. The Sweets’ hitters would only strikeout four times, but could not create timely hitting to create a big inning.
GAME 3:
Alex Overbay (UNLV) would do a little bit of everything in the 6-2 victory to clinch the sweep of the Sweets. Overbay would throw a season high 3.0 innings in his fourth appearance and earned his second win of the season as well. Overbay would also record his first two doubles of the season, and would add a pair of runs as well. Catcher Jewell Williams (Clark CC) would record his first two runs of the season, and added his first HBP. First baseman Patrick Keighran (San Franciscos) and Tanner Griffith (St. Marys) would record two walks a piece, with Keighran adding his first triple of the night, and recording three RBI. Second baseman Alex Gouveia (UC Davis) would steal two bases to bring his total to seven on the season.
It was another terrific pitching performance from the Pickles, as the Sweets would score a run a piece in the second and third inning, but would not push runners across in the later innings. Right-handed starter Noel Valdez (UC Davis) would match his season high 4.0 innings pitched, and struck out a season high four Sweets hitters. Right-hander Carter Delaney (UC Davis) would record his first save of the year in a season high two innings.
SEASON NOTES:
Sam Christiansen (Oklahoma) has reached base safely in 20 of 24 games this season, and has recorded at least one run in 18 games.
Tanner Griffith (St. Marys) has reached base safely in 23 of 26 games this season. Griffith has recorded seven multi-hit games, and leads the team with 25 walks this season. Griffith also has recorded at least one hit in eight of nine games, and currently has a five game hitting streak.
Patrick Keighran (San Francisco) has recorded at least one hit in seven of the last eight games, with five multi-hit games and two three-hit games during the span. Keighran has also recorded at least two runs in seven games this season.
Dominic Chacon (GCU) has recorded at least one hit in six of the last eight games, and has recorded four multi-hit games. Chacon has reached base safely in 14 of 16 games played this season.
Alex Gouveia (UC Davis) has recorded a run in five straight games, reaching base safely in 12 of 15 games played this season. Gouveia has recorded seven multi-hit games this season, and three games with at least three hits.
Connor Stewart (CSUN) has recorded six multi-hit games this season. Stewart has reached base safely in 15 of 20 games played this season.
Shunsuke Sakaino (CSUN) has reached base safely in 15 of 18 games played this season.
Tyler Harries (San Francisco) has recorded seven multi-hit games this season, and recorded six hits in the last three game series against Walla Walla.
Brock Roundy (Utah Tech) has recorded 5+ strikeouts in three of four games pitched, and has not given up a run this season in 16 innings pitched.
Murphy Gienger (Northern Colorado) has recorded 4+ strikeouts in four of five appearances this season, and is second on the team in innings pitched (18).
Freddie Rodriguez (Hawaii) has thrown for 3+ innings in all three appearances this season, and has won two of three starts this season.
Dylan Smith (Northern Colorado) has thrown at least 4+ innings in four of five appearances this season, and leads the team in innings pitched (20).
Noah Luchessi (Sacramento State) and Josiah Shiply (Clackamas CC) lead the team with seven appearances this season.
The Pickles won their ninth series of the season, their second series sweep, and have won their sixth straight series.
The Pickles are 9-4 at home, 11-4 on the road, and 8-2 in their last 10 games.
PICKLES IN THE WCL:
The Pickles sit second overall in winning percentage (.714). Team defense is second in fielding percentage (.976).
Offense is first in HBP (60), Sacrifice Hits (36), tied for first in total walks (159), second in stolen bases (64), OBP (.384), in runs scored (173), and third in RBI (135).
Pitching is first in hits allowed (175), strikeouts (248), SLG allowed (.236), AVG against (.194), second in runs allowed (87), in earned runs (81), ERA (2.84), wins (20) and third in WHIP (1.23).
Tyler Harries (San Francisco) sits sixth in AVG (.344)
Tanner Griffith (St. Marys) sits first in total walks (25), fifth in runs scored (21), HBP (7), and sixth in OBP (.453).
Patrick Keighran (San Francisco) is first in OBP (.509), HBP (14), second in runs scored (26), and third in total walks (20), sixth in Slugging Percentage (.481).
Connor Stewart (CSUN) sits fourth in HBP (8).
Sam Christiansen (Oklahoma) sits tied first in stolen bases (14), and sixth in total walks (16).
Brock Roundy (Utah Tech) and Shay Timmer (Salt Lake CC) sit first in ERA (.000).
NEXT UP:
The Portland Pickles (20-8) The Pickles will be home Monday, July 8th for a make-up game against the Walla Walla Sweets (9-20) before heading back on the road to face the Springfield Drifters (12-15) in a three-game series July 9th-11th.
Ticket Info: https://www.picklestickets.com/
