Pickles Fall In Battle For First
PORTLAND, Ore. (July 18, 2024) – The Portland Pickles (26-10) bats came alive too late in the 5-2 loss to the Ridgefield Raptors (20-16). The Raptors used two home runs to score five runs in the second and third inning. The Pickles would rally in the seventh and ninth inning recording a run a piece, but would leave 10 runners on base and it would be too little too late. After the result, The Ridgefield Raptors lead the Pickles by 1.5 games for first in the second half of play in South Division.
Two Pickles’ hitters made their debut in the lineup tonight hitting in the top two spots of the lineup. Leadoff hitter Dalton Mashore (South Carolina) was the designated hitter, and Britton Beeson (Hawaii) played second base and hit second in the Pickles’ lineup. Beeson recorded three of the Pickles’ six hits and added an RBI. Mashore added a walk and hit, and Alejandro Garza (Cal Poly) added a single, and a run. Tyler Harries (San Francisco) added a pair of walks as well.
Right-handed starting pitcher Ethan Marmie (Cal Poly) appeared in his third game and made his first start of the season. Marmie set a season high in innings pitched (3.0) and strikeouts (2). Left-hander Ben Smith (GCU) would record his third relief appearance in his seventh game of the season. Smith was fantastic, as he faced the minimum through 5.1 innings. Smith threw a season high 6.0 innings, giving up no runs, four hits, and striking out two Raptors.
The second half of the season has treated the Pickles well, as they are 9-2 and sit second in the WCL. The Pickles (26-10) own the second best combined winning percentage overall (.722) in the WCL. The Pickles are two wins away from last year's win mark (27).
The Pickles finished second in the South Division in the first half of the WCL and second overall in winning percentage (.724) in the first half of the season. Four Pickles made the 2024 WCL All-Star Game. Patrick Keigrhan (San Francisco), Tanner Griffith (St. Marys), Shay Timmer (Northern Colorado), and Freddie Rodriguez (Hawaii). In the 2024 MLB Draft, two current Portland Pickles signed with an MLB team. Junior Outfielder Carter Frederick (Oklahoma) was drafted in the 20th round and signed with the Kansas City Royals. Right-handed pitcher Shay Timmer (Salt Lake CC) signed as a free agent for the Detroit Tigers. The Pickles had five former and two current players sign with an MLB in the 2024 MLB Draft.
KEY MOMENTS OF THE GAME:
Top of the 1st: A leadoff walk from the Raptors would be the only threat in the inning. A strike 'em’ out throw 'em’ out double play from catcher Connor Stewart (CSUN) and a ground ball to shortstop Tyler Harries (San Francisco) would help starting pitcher Ethan Marmie (Cal Poly) face the minimum.
In the bottom of the 1st: Leadoff hitter Dalton Mashore (South Carolina) recorded a leadoff walk in his first at-bat of the season. A Britton Beeson (Hawaii) single up the middle would give runners on first and second with no outs. A double-play off of a sacrifice bunt attempt, and good throw from the Raptor catcher on a two out steal attempt would eliminate the early threat from the Pickles.
In the top of the 2nd: A leadoff walk, and a two-run home run from the Raptors would help them take the early 2-0 lead with one out. A pair of fly outs to left field would move us to the bottom half of the inning.
In the top of the 3rd: A pair of singles and a three-run homer for the Raptors would help extend their lead 5-0.
In the top of the 5th: A leadoff single to left would be eliminated quickly with a 6-4-3 double play the following pitch. A fly out to left would help Ben Smith (GCU) face the minimum as the Pickles looked to cut into the five run Raptors’ lead.
In the bottom of the 6th: A two out Britton Beeson (Hawaii) single would be the only action of the inning.
In the bottom of the 7th: Third baseman Alejandro Garza (Cal Poly) would rocket a one out single up the middle, and left fielder Tony Otis (Pacific) would record a walk to put runners on first and second. The bases would then be loaded with one out after first baseman Kevin Ferguson (Hawaii) recorded a HBP. Catcher Connor Stewart (CSUN) would bring in the first run of the game, recording a sacrifice fly to left to score Garza. A two out walk recorded by shortstop Tyler Harries (San Francisco) would load the bases again, bringing the tying run to the plate, and a pitching change for the Raptors. The Raptors would survive the threat with a strikeout to keep their 5-1 lead.
In the bottom of the 8th: A pair of walks from second baseman Alex Gouveia (UC Davis) and right fielder Tanner Griffith (St. Marys) would put runners on first and second with one out. A fielder's choice and a strikeout would again eliminate the threat with one more inning to go.
In the bottom of the 9th: A leadoff single from first baseman Kevin Ferguson (Hawaii) (Mcguire to pinch run). With two outs, designated hitter Dalton Mashore (South Carolina) would rip a single up the middle to give runners on first and second. Center fielder Britton Beeson (Hawaii) would rip a single to the right side to cut the deficit to three. With the tying-run at the plate, the Raptors would clinch the 5-2 win with a fly out to right field to stay perfect for the second half of WCL play.
SEASON NOTES:
Tyler Harries (San Francisco) has recorded 2+ walks in two of the last three games.
Tanner Griffith (St. Marys) has reached base safely in 30 of 34 games played this season. Griffith has recorded nine multi-hit games, and leads the team with 33 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 11 of the last 13 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 18 of 23 games played this season. Gouveia has recorded 10 multi-hit games this season, and four 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 seven games and has thrown for at least 2+ innings in every appearance, and struck out 3+ three times.
Noah Luchessi (Sacramento State) leads the team with nine appearances this season.
Pickles had runners in scoring position in 5 of 9 innings.
The Pickles are 13-5 at home, 13-5 on the road, and 8-2 in their last 10 games.
PICKLES IN THE WCL:
The Pickles are 9-2 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).
NEXT UP:
The Portland Pickles (26-10) will go on the road and play in Canada for the first time this season to face the Kelowna Falcons (16-20) in a three game series. The Pickles will be back in Walker Stadium July 23-25 to host the Springfield Drifters (13-23) in a three-game series.
Ticket Info: https://www.picklestickets.com/