Pickles Take Two of Three On the Road
WALLA WALLA, Wash. (June 9, 2024) – In their first road test of the season, the Portland Pickles (6-1) took the series against the Walla Walla Sweets. The Pickles sit only a half game back in the South Division of the WCL behind upcoming opponent Corvallis Knights (7-1).
In Game one of the series, the Pickles impressed again on the bump with a 5-1 victory. Starting RHP Shay Timmer (Salt Lake CC) went three innings and allowed just two hits with one walk and two strikeouts. Winning RHP Kenny Ishikawa earned his first decision of the year with two innings of relief and striking out five. The Pickles bullpen combined for six innings and nine strikeouts. First baseman Alex Overbay (UNLV) and left fielder Dominic Chacon (Grand Canyon) showed some speed, each earning a triple. Overbay led the Pickles with three RBI and two hits. Leadoff man and right fielder Tanner Griffith (St. Marys) had a pair of singles as well.
In Game two of the series, the bats came alive as the Pickles won again 11-2. The lineup totaled 11 hits with four hitters collecting two hits. Connor Stewart (CSUN) got the start behind the dish and recorded two hits with a double, and two RBI. Center fielder Tony Otis (Pacific) recorded a game high three RBI, with second baseman Tyler Harries (U of San Francisco) recording two hits with a double. The pitching staff did their job again striking out eight Sweets hitters while limiting them to two earned runs. LHP Shaydon Benson (College of Southern Idaho) earned the win with 2.1 innings of work and adding three strikeouts.
In the series finale, the Sweets used a two run bottom of the seventh to take the lead and win 4-2. It gave the Pickles their first loss of the season, moving their record to 6-1. In his first start of the season, RHP Diego Guiterrez (CSUN) struck out three, allowing three hits on two runs. LHP Ben Smith (Grand Canyon) made his season debut with the Pickles striking out three in two innings of relief. The Pickles scored one in the first off a sacrifice fly from first basemen Patrick Keighran (U of San Francisco) scoring DH Tanner Griffith (St. Marys). The bats then got silenced by the Sweets as the Pickles only scored only one more run in the game. The Sweets held the Pickles to its season low in two runs scored, and tied a season low with five hits.
Some notable stats after seven games into the season:
Patrick Keighran (U of San Francisco) sits tied for third in runs scored (10), and walks (8) in the WCL.
Tony Otis (Pacific) sits tied for third with four HBP in the WCL.
Sam Christiansen (Oklahoma) is tied for first with seven stolen bases in the WCL.
Alex Overbay (UNLV) is tied for first in the WCL with a .692 slugging percentage.
Overbay (.526) and Keighran (.548) sit fourth and second in on base percentage in the WCL.
As a team the Pickles in the WCL are: first in OBP (.446), OPS (.808), HP (24), runs allowed (9), hits allowed (32), average against (.151), WHIP (1.03),cERA (.87), and fielding percentage (.981). They rank second in stolen bases (20), walks (52), and wins (6).
The Portland Pickles will now set their sights for a midweek clash against current first place and seven-time defending WCL Champion Corvallis Knights. This three game series will put two of the best teams in the WCL on the diamond this week (June 11-13) in Walker Stadium.
Ticket Info: https://www.picklestickets.com/
