Pickles Clinch the Series in Dominant Fashion
Portland, Ore. (July 24, 2024) - The Pickles (30-11) left no doubt today as they rout the Springfield Drifters 15-2 to go ahead two to none in this three-game series. Today’s win brings the magic number to 1, with a win tomorrow clinching a WCL Playoff bid for the Pickles.
The Drifters started strong, hitting two singles and a sac fly to take an early 1-0 lead, but the Pickles would soon take a decisive lead and never look back. The Pickles scored five runs in the second inning while recording 0 hits, taking advantage of free bases. There was no shortage of those today, as the Pickles were awarded six HBPs and eight walks. The bats would soon pick up, led by Alex Gouveia (UC Davis), going 3-for-4, with 3 RBIs and 2 Runs. Gouveia has now recorded multiple hits in three consecutive games. Riley McCarthy ( U of Portland) shined in his Pickles debut tonight, going 2-for-2, with a walk and 4 RBIs, highlighted by a Grand Slam roped out over the Left Field fence in the Bottom of the Eighth.
The Pickles' arms shined as well today, allowing just five hits and striking out 14. Kaysen Rainieri (Hawaii) dominated in his third appearance of the season, pitching 3 Innings and allowing just one hit while striking out 5, four of those consecutively.
The Pickles look to sweep the series tomorrow and clinch a spot in the playoffs before heading to Corvallis for the weekend.
How it Happened:
Top of the First: The Drifters jumped ahead early with two weakly hit singles and a sac fly to bring in their first run.
Bottom of the Second: The Pickles took advantage of four walks, two HBP’s, and two errors to put five runs on the board while claiming zero hits.
Top of the Fourth: Kaysen Rainieri came into relief with a statement, striking out the side for the Pickles.
Bottom of the Fourth: Alex Gouveia started the inning with a leadoff single, leading to a Blake Conrad RBI Fielders choice to extend the lead to five.
Bottom of the Fifth: Alex Gouveia ripped a line drive into left-center for a 2 RBI Single, taking the Pickles lead to 7.
Bottom of the Seventh: Dalton Mashore poked a single out to right field to score Tanner Griffith.
Bottom of the Eighth: Tanner Griffith slapped a hard-hit single up the middle, driving in Blake Conrad. A few pitches later, Patrick Keighran scored on an error off of a pickoff attempt. Riley McCarthy then turns on a fastball to hit a Grand Slam over the left field fence in his Pickles Debut. Pickles extended their lead to 14 runs.
Tyler Harries (San Francisco) has recorded 2+ walks in two of the last three games.
Tanner Griffith (St. Marys) has reached base safely in 32 of 36 games played this season. Griffith has recorded nine multi-hit games, and leads the team with 35 walks this season. Griffith has also recorded 2+ walks in a game nine times this season.
Patrick Keighran (San Francisco) has recorded at least one hit in 13 of the last 15 games, with seven multi-hit games this season. Keighran has also recorded at least two runs in 11 games this season, and has recorded 2+ walks in nine games this season.
Alex Gouveia (UC Davis) has reached base safely in 20 of 25 games played this season. Gouveia has recorded 12 multi-hit games this season, and five games with at least three hits.
In his first eight games, Alejandro Garza (Cal Poly) has recorded a run in seven straight games, and recorded a hit in seven of eight games.
Sam Christiansen (Oklahoma) has reached base safely in 22 of 26 games this season.
Dylan Smith (Northern Colorado) is third on the team in innings pitched (24), and has thrown for 4.0+ innings in five of six appearances this season.
Murphy Gienger (Northern Colorado) has recorded 4+ strikeouts in five of six appearances this season, and is third on the team in innings pitched (23).
Ben Smith (GCU) is second on the team in innings pitch (25.1) and strikeouts (25)
Freddie Rodriguez (Hawaii) has thrown for 5+ innings in all five starts this season, and has won three of his five starts this season. Rodriguez also leads the team in innings (26) and strikeouts (31).
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.
Shaydon Benson has appeared in eight games and has thrown for at least 2+ innings in every appearance, and struck out 3+ four times.
Noah Luchessi (Sacramento State) leads the team with nine appearances this season.
The Pickles are 15-5 at home, 13-5 on the road, and 8-2 in their last 10 games.
PICKLES IN THE WCL:
The Pickles are 11-2 in the second half of the season. Pickles finished second overall in winning percentage (.680) in the first half of the season, and second in the South division with a 17-8 record.
Team defense is second in fielding percentage (.975).
Offense is first in walks (217), HBP (70), sacrifice hits (47), second in runs scored (230), OBP percentage (.395), third in RBI (180), OPS (.727), and fourth in stolen bases (79)and HR (12).
Pitching is first in hits allowed (237), strikeouts (319), SLG allowed (.251), AVG against (.201), second in wins (26), runs allowed (112), earned runs (102), WHIP (1.21), and ERA (2.80).
Tyler Harries (San Francisco) sits fifth in AVG (.337), and fifth in OBP (.450).
Tanner Griffith (St. Marys) sits first in total walks (33), tied for third and HBP (9), and fourth in OBP (.457), and in runs scored (28),
Patrick Keighran (San Francisco) is first in runs scored (38), and OBP (.514), tied for first in HBP (15), second in total walks (30), and sixth in SLG percentage (.490).
Tony Otis (Pacific) is tied for second in HR (4).
Connor Stewart (CSUN) is tied for fourth in HBP (8).
Sam Christiansen (Oklahoma) is tied for fourth in stolen bases (14).
Freddy Rodriguez (Hawaii) is tied for sixth in total strikeouts (31).