Pippins Drop Regular-Season Finale to Wenatchee

Late rally comes up short in loss

The Yakima Valley Pippins ended their regular season in rough fashion, dropping the finale 9-2 to the visiting Wenatchee AppleSox.

The AppleSox jumped on Pippins newcomer Payton Childers, recording five singles to start the game and scoring four runs in the first inning. He would allow another run in the second inning and wound up with the loss.

Jack Lee started on the mound for Wenatchee, allowing three hits in the first two innings and no more after that as he finished six innings on the mound. He struck out nine batters and walked just one to earn the win.

Rustin Edmiston and Gaven Mattson made their debuts with the Pippins, tasked with eating innings to save the bullpen for the playoffs. They each turned in two innings of relief.

Edmiston was first out of the bullpen, hitting and walking the first two batters he faced before a two-run single by Ethan Stacy. He stranded a runner on third base for a scoreless fourth inning. 

Mattson allowed a run in the fifth inning before a scoreless sixth inning.

Brock Molenda pitched the seventh inning, allowing a leadoff triple before Stacy again drove in a run to give Wenatchee a 9-0 lead.

Case Matter and Payton Robertson finished off the final two innings without a run, as Matter struck out two of the four batters he faced and Robertson retired the side in order with a groundout and two flyouts.

The Pippins bats finally came alive in the ninth, with Chaz Myers reaching on an error to start the home half and Michael Carpentier Jr. singling to put runners on the corners with one out. After a strikeout, Blake Dickman hit a two-run double to end the combined shutout bid, but the offense ended there and the Pippins lost 9-2.

The Pippins end their season with a 40-19 overall record, 29-19 in West Coast League play. They begin their hunt for the West Coast League championship Saturday in Bellingham before returning home for game two on Sunday night.

By Chris Rosato Jr.

August 13, 2021