Pickles Start Second Half Strong
PORTLAND, Ore. (July 8, 2024) – In a rescheduled rain out game, the Portland Pickles (21-8) defeated the Walla Walla Sweets (9-21) in a 9-2 victory in Walker Stadium. The Pickles have now won six in a row, and 4-0 to start the second half of the season. Portland also improved to 8-1 over Walla Walla, and have won four consecutive over the Sweets.
Two Pickles’ pitchers kept the Sweets in check all night. Starting pitcher Freddie Rodriguez (Hawaii) threw for 5.0 innings giving up two runs on five hits and striking out five Sweets’ hitters while earning his third win of the season. Rodriguez has struck out 23 hitters in 21 innings pitched this inning and has a 1.28 ERA. Left-hander Chris Downs (Cal Poly) threw a season high 4.0 innings in his fourth appearance of the season. Downs struck out four Sweets’ hitters, giving up no runs on only three hits.
The offense started out hot with eight runs in the first three innings. Three Pickles’ hitters recorded a three-hit game (Frederick, Gouveia, and Otis), with seven of nine starters recording at least one hit. Left fielder Carter Frederick (Oklahoma) recorded a double, two singles, two RBI, and a stolen base in his season debut for the Pickles. Second baseman Alex Gouveia (UC Davis) recorded a run and three RBI to go along with his three hits. Center fielder Tony Otis (Pacific) recorded two doubles for two of his three hits on the night. First baseman Patrick Keigrhan (San Francisco) recorded three walks to total five in the last two games.
The Pickles finished second in the South Division of the WCL and second overall in winning percentage (.724). In order to make the playoffs, the Pickles will need to finish in the top four of the South Division in the second half of the season. Four Pickles made the 2024 WCL All-Star Game. Patrick Keigrhan, Tanner Griffith, Shay Timmer, and Freddie Rodriguez.
KEY MOMENTS OF THE GAME:
Top of the 1st inning: Walla Walla used a leadoff single to push across one run and take the early 1-0 lead. In the bottom half of the inning, first baseman Patrick Keigrhan (San Francisco) scored on a second baseman Alex Gouveia (UC Davis) single RBI to tie the ball game 1-1. An error from the shortstop would score Carter Frederick (Oklahoma) and third baseman Alejandro Garza (Cal Poly) would then record a single to take the 3-1 lead
Top of the 2nd inning: A leadoff single again, and a walk would give the Sweets runners on first and second with one out, but a double play would eliminate the threat.
Bot of the 2nd inning: Catcher Connor Stewart (CSUN) and designated hitter Kevin Ferguson (Hawaii) recorded a pair of singles, and first baseman Patrick Keigrhan (San Francisco) worked a walk to load the bases with no outs. With one out, second baseman Alex Gouveia (UC Davis) ripped a single up the middle to push across a run. A sacrifice fly from right fielder Tanner Griffith (St. Marys), and a double from Tony Otis (Pacific) would help score two more runs for another three run inning and take the 6-1 lead.
Bot of the 3rd inning: Shortstop Tyler Harries (San Francisco) ripped a line drive for a lead off single. Another single up the middle from catcher Connor Stewart (CSUN) and a walk from first baseman Patrick Keigrhan (San Francisco) would load the bases with one out. A left fielder Carter Frederick (Oklahoma) sacrifice fly, and a second baseman Alex Gouveia (UC Davis) single up the middle would score two more runs and increase their lead 8-1.
Bot of the 7th inning: An error and a walk would give the Pickles runners on first and second yet again. A two out double from left fielder Carter Frederick (Oklahoma) would extend the 9-2 lead.
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 27 games this season. Griffith has recorded seven multi-hit games, and leads the team with 25 walks this season.
Patrick Keighran (San Francisco) has recorded at least one hit in seven of the last nine games, with five multi-hit games this season. Keighran has also recorded at least two runs in eight games this season, and has recorded 2+ walks in seven games this season
Alex Gouveia (UC Davis) has recorded a run in six straight games, reaching base safely in 13 of 16 games played this season. Gouveia has recorded eight multi-hit games this season, and four games with at least three hits.
Connor Stewart (CSUN) has recorded seven multi-hit games this season. Stewart has reached base safely in 16 of 21 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 seven hits in the last four games, and has a five-game hitting streak.
Carter Frederick (Oklahoma) made his Pickles debut with a three-hit game.
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 third on the team in innings pitched (18).
Freddie Rodriguez (Hawaii) has thrown for 5+ innings in all four starts this season, and has won three of his four starts this season. Rodriguez also leads the team in innings pitched (20)
Dylan Smith (Northern Colorado) has thrown at least 4+ innings in four of five appearances this season, and is second on 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 have won their nine series this season, and have won sixt straight series.
The Pickles are 10-4 at home, 11-4 on the road, and 8-2 in their last 10 games.
PICKLES IN THE WCL:
The Pickles are 4-0 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 (.976).
Offense is first in HBP (60), Sacrifice Hits (36), second in OBP (.387), in runs scored (173), and third in total walks (165), stolen bases (67), RBI (135), fourth in runs scored (182), and fifth in RBI (143).
Pitching is first in runs allowed (183), SLG allowed (.236), AVG against (.195) second in runs allowed (89), strikeouts (257), WHIP (1.23), ERA (2.81)
Tyler Harries (San Francisco) sits seventh in AVG (.338)
Tanner Griffith (St. Marys) sits first in total walks (25), fifth in HBP (7), and sixth in OBP (.453), seventh in runs scored (21).
Patrick Keighran (San Francisco) is first in OBP (.513), HBP (14), second in runs scored (28), and total walks (23), eighth in Slugging Percentage (.468).
Connor Stewart (CSUN) sits fourth in HBP (8).
Sam Christiansen (Oklahoma) sits second in stolen bases (14).
Tony Otis (Pacific) sits fifth in stolen bases (11).
Next Up:
The Portland Pickles (21-8) will be back on the road to face the Springfield Drifters (12-16) in a three-game series July 9th-11th.
Ticket Info: https://www.picklestickets.com/