Pippins Complete Sweep of Wenatchee with 4-2 Win

YAKIMA, Wash. – Dylan Barkley threw 5.1 innings of 1-run ball, and the Yakima Valley Pippins used a 3-run sixth inning to complete a 3-game, home-opening weekend series sweep of the Wenatchee AppleSox with a 4-2 win at Yakima County Stadium on Sunday evening.

Barkley, making his 2nd start of the summer for the Pippins (5-1), fell behind early in the 2nd inning when a Hunter Montgomery double and Blake Klassen single put runners on the corners for Wenatchee (1-5). A batter later, catcher Justin Lutz airmailed a thrown down to second base, allowing Montgomery to score, and giving Wenatchee an early lead. The unearned run would be the only blemish on Barkley’s record; he completed 5.1 innings on 4 hits, no walks (for the second straight start), and struck out 5.

The Pippins answered back with a run in the third inning off of an Owen Cobb RBI double, scoring Tanner Parker, who had doubled a batter earlier. Wenatchee regained the lead with a run in the sixth inning off of Pippins reliever Scott Youngbrandt, but the Pippins responded with a three-run bottom of the sixth inning. After Henry Gargus drew a bases loaded walk to tie it at 2, Lutz hit a bouncing ground ball towards second, which was thrown away by Wenatchee second baseman Grant Gorrell, scoring two. The Pippins never trailed from that point.

Youngbrandt earned his first win of the summer in relief, while the newest Pippin, left-hander Jack Gonzales, earned the save with two scoreless innings to close out the win, striking out a pair. Cobb led the way on offense for the Pippins with 2 hits, while Tyler Pittman had a 2-hit day, including a double. Parker had the only other of Yakima Valley’s 5 hits.

Starter Keegan Romig took the loss for Wenatchee, allowing 4 runs (3 earned) over 5-plus innings on 3 hits, 2 walks, and 3 strikeouts. He did not record an out in the sixth inning, allowing all four men he saw to reach base. Klassen was 3-for-4 with an RBI for the AppleSox.

The Pippins, atop the West Coast League’s North Division at 5-1, have two off days on Monday and Tuesday before returning to action on Wednesday at home to start a two-game series with the Victoria HarbourCats. First pitch on Wednesday is set for 6:35 PM PT, with A.J. Wood expected to start for the Pippins. Pre-game audio and video coverage with Miles Klotz will begin at 6:20 PM.

By Miles Klotz

June 10, 2019