Pickles Battle But Fall To Knights In Extras
PORTLAND, Ore. (June 13, 2024) – The Portland Pickles (6-4) led 3-1 in the second inning, but the Corvallis Knights (10-1) used a one run sixth and seventh inning to push it to extras in Walker Stadium Thursday night. In extras the Knights kept the Pickles still at the plate, and pushed across two runs in the 12th to secure the 5-3 win.
The Pickles started hot with left-handed starting pitcher Ben Smith (Grand Canyon) striking out two Corvallis hitters, and blanking the Knights to a zero in the first. It was the 10th different starting pitcher in ten contests this season for the Pickles.
Leadoff man Tanner Griffith (St. Marys) entered the game tied for fourth in the WCL with 10 walks. This time, Griffith attacked at the plate and gave the Pickles their first lead of the series with a solo shot to right field. It was the Pickles fourth home run of the season. The top of the second saw the Knights tie the game with a wall scraping double. The Pickles would then retake the lead 3-1 in the bottom half of the inning.
Smith threw five innings striking out eight, giving up two hits, one run and a walk. It was the most strikeouts thrown by a Pickles pitcher this season. As a pitching staff, the six Pickles pitchers struck out 19 Corvallis hitters on the night. Pickles relievers Collin Miskelly (LBSU) and Coleman Bobb (College of Southern Idaho) combined for six total innings pitched, striking out 10, giving up only two hits, and one run giving the Pickles a chance in the later innings.
Tanner Griffith (St. Marys) was the only Pickle with a multi-hit game adding a single in the ninth, but not resulting in a run. It was Griffith’s second multi-hit game of the season. Catcher Nate Wood (South Alabama) impressed behind the plate catching all 12 innings, and added two walks and a run at the plate. Jack Metcho (Pacific) also made his debut with two pinch hit at bats tonight. Sam Christiansen (Oklahoma) recorded one hit tonight, good for a hit in eight of ten contests this season. Chrisitien Banda (LBSU) pinch hit in the 12th and recorded a single for his first hit of the season.
Key Moments of the Game
A leadoff walk, and a single from Kevin Ferguson (Hawaii) to right field started off the bottom of the second inning. A HBP from Connor Stewart (CSUN) loaded the bases and a Shunsuke Sakaino walk would score a run for the Pickles to retake the lead 2-1. Later in the inning, strikeout wild pitch would score another run to make it a 3-1 lead.
In the top of the sixth, right-hander Justin Santiago (St. Marys) would appear in relief facing a bases loaded. A fielder's choice would score one to cut the lead in half 3-2. Santiago would strike out two hitters to keep the Knights’ hitters still to maintain the lead. A single and a pair of wild pitches moved the Knights’ tying run to third in the top of the seventh. A hard hit single to left field would score the runner from third to tie the game 3-3. The top of the eighth, left-hander Collin Miskelly (LBSU) came in for relief and struck out the side to bring the Pickles back up to the plate, but the Pickles were unable to get a runner on base.
In the top of the ninth, the Knights worked a leadoff walk, and a sacrifice bunt would put the runner in scoring position. A pitch clock violation would result in a walk with runners on first and second and a pitching change. Right-hander Coleman Bobb (College of Southern Idaho) came in with one out and runners on first and second. Bobb would work a pop fly to right field, and a full count strikeout to keep the game tied 3-3.
The top of the 11th, a one out walk would bring a Corvallis runner to first. A failed pick off attempt would advance the runner to second. On a 1-2 count the Knights runner slipped forcing a throw from the catcher Nate Wood (South Alabama). Shortstop Chipper Beck (BYU) was able to pick it up and throw it to third to get the Knights runner out for the second out of the inning. Bobb would then get the third out with a strikeout to move us to the bottom of the 11th, but they were unable to get a runner on, as we went to the 12th.
The top of the 12th brought a one out walk and a Knights runner to first. An error would then bring runners to first and third. A single in the six hole would score the go-ahead run to take a 4-3 lead. An infield single moved the runners to juice the bases. A sac fly then would strengthen the Knights’ 5-3 lead.
Next Up
The Portland Pickles (6-3) sit tied for second in the South Division of the WCL. They will head to Bend to face the Bend Elks in a three game road series June 14th-16th. The Pickles will return home to Walker Stadium and host the Cowlitz Black Bears June 18th-20th.
Ticket Info: https://www.picklestickets.com/
