Pickles Surge to 4-0 In Opening Week
PORTLAND, Ore. (June 7, 2024) – The Portland Pickles (4-0) went undefeated in series against the Ridgefield Raptors, and the Walla Walla Sweets. The Pickles have won their four games with a run differential of 43-2. Battling the rain this week, a game with both WCL opponents got postponed to later dates in the season.
A playoff team the previous two years, Head Coach Mark Magdaleno has the Pickles starting hot. The pitching staff has been the difference maker. As a unit, the Pickles had a franchise record 31 scoreless innings pitched that spanned across four games. The Walla Walla Sweets scored the first run against the Pickles in the top of the fifth inning in last night’s 9-2 victory to snap the streak.
Starting pitching has impressed this season. Opening Day starter Brock Roundy (Utah Tech) threw a season high five innings, allowing just two hits with six strikeouts in a 12-0 win over the Ridgefield Raptors last Friday. Starting pitcher from game one of the Walla Walla Sweets series Dylan Smith (University of Northern Colorado), went four innings, giving up two hits, one walk, with one strikeout in the 17-0 victory. In Last night’s series clinching win over the Sweets, starting pitcher Murphy Gienger (University of Northern Colorado) impressed with three innings pitched, two hits allowed, with four strikeouts in the 9-2 victory.
Other notable arms from the knoll include, right hander Shay Timmer (Salt Lake CC), who struck out five of his nine batters faced in his three innings of relief work. Right hander Ryder Edwards (George Fox University), came in relief in game two against the Ridgefield Raptors, struck out seven of the 10 batters he faced, giving up only one hit in three relief innings, earning him the win. Left-hander Christien Banda (Long Beach State) gave up no hits in his three inning relief appearance in game one against the Sweets. Banda struck out six and also earned the win in the 17-0 game one victory.
The Pickles’ hitters have done their job as well. Infielder Kevin Ferguson (Hawaii) leads the West Coast League in batting average (.500) and is second in the league in RBI (7). Infielder Patrick Keighran (University of San Francisco) leads the team and the WCL in OBP (.688), andleads the team with eight runs scored (second in the WCL), as well as HBP (4). Outfielder Sam Christiansen (Oklahoma) has shown some speed leading the team with five stolen bases and sitting second in the WCL.
As a team, the Pickles have shown some power in just four games. Last night against the Sweets, Inflieder Alex Overbay (UNLV) and Outfielder Tony Otis (Pacific), each launched a home run.
The Pickles sit on top of the league in numerous offensive statistics. First in OBP (.497) and OPS (.915), tied first in total home runs (3), second in slugging (.418), second in total walks (35), and fourth in total runs scored (37).
The Pickles have also flashed some leather on the diamond this season with a fielding percentage of 1.000. The Pickles are the only team to commit no errors this season with 155 total chances.
The Portland Pickles look to continue their winning ways as they head on the road for the first time this season to play the Walla Walla Sweets in a three-game series this weekend (June 7-June 9).
Your Portland Pickles will return home next Tuesday for a three game series against seven-time defending West Coast League Champion Corvallis Knights (June 11-13).
Ticket Info: https://www.picklestickets.com
