Kuykendall’s Gem Helps Pippins Win Series in Wenatchee

Kyle Krustangel takes two out of three in return to Wenatchee

Pippins Head Coach Kyle Krustangel was given a series win in his first trip back to Wenatchee as an opposing coach when his Pippins downed the AppleSox 5-1 Sunday.

Krustangel, who coached the AppleSox from 2017-19, led the Pippins to victory Sunday after opening the series Friday with a 15-5 win and falling Saturday, 15-7.

Seth Kuykendall turned in his fifth quality start of the season, throwing a season-high eight innings of one-run ball. He struck out five and did not allow a walk, earning the win.

The Pippins were handed an early lead when Connor Coballes was hit by the first pitch of the game from Wenatchee starter Cameron Liss. Liss would go on to walk three more batters to load the bases and force home a run.

The lone run against Kuykendall came in the second inning, when Tino Bethancourt led off with a double. He would move to third on a groundout and score on a sacrifice fly by Jacob Wyeth to tie the game.

The Pippins broke the tie in the fourth inning, starting with Blake Dickman doubling to start the inning. Alex Shanks followed with a double of his own to put the Pippins ahead, and Shanks would score on a base hit by Chase Graves for a 3-1 lead.

Michael Carpentier Jr. hit a one-out single in the fifth inning, advancing to second on an error by the shortstop when Mason Marenco grounded into a fielder’s choice.

Carpentier Jr. moved to third and scored on a pair of wild pitches for a 4-1 lead. He also threw out Garrett Cutting trying to steal second base in the fifth inning, his 11th runner caught stealing this summer.

Blake Dickman walked, moving Marenco to second base. After a lineout, Taylor Holder lined a pitch straight back up the middle, scoring Marenco before Dickman was thrown out trying to go first-to-third to end the inning.

Kuykendall (3-2, 2.77 ERA) gave way to Landon Schirer in the ninth in a non-save situation. Schirer (0-0, 0.75 ERA) walked the first batter he faced before striking out the next two and inducing a groundout to end the game.

The Pippins take Monday off before hosting the Cowlitz Black Bears Tuesday-Thursday. Tuesday is another Toyota Tuesday Family Night Out, with first pitch scheduled for 6:35 p.m.

By Chris Rosato Jr.

July 26, 2021