Pippins Drop Series to Corvallis with 10-7 Loss

YAKIMA, Wash. –  The Yakima Valley Pippins were victims of a strong offensive performance by the Corvallis Knights on Sunday, falling by a final score of 10-7 at Yakima County Stadium to drop the 3-game series.

Corvallis (7-6) pounced on Pippins (8-9) starter Tyler Frazier early, scoring four runs in the first inning on three hard singles and a two-run homer by Trace Tammaro. Despite the Pippins tacking on 3 runs in both the second and third innings, Corvallis hit Frazier for more in the third to to knock him out after just 2.1 innings, allowing 6 runs (5 earned) on 6 hits.

Just like in Friday’s series opener, the Pippins offense had early signs of life. Off of Corvallis southpaw Tevita Gerber, Luke Schwartz hit a 2-out, 2 RBI single in the second inning to cap off a three-run frame, and three different Pippins added RBI singles in the third. After that, however, the Pippins would manage just three more hits and one more run the rest of the way, an offensive blackout similar to Friday.

Gerber, who picked up the win, finished after allowing 7 runs (5 earned) on 9 hits, 3 walks, and 6 strikeouts over 5.2 innings of work. The Corvallis offense backed him up in the sixth inning when Briley Knight roped a 2-0, one-out fastball from Pippins reliever A.J. Wood through the right side to extend their lead to 9-6. Wood, who allowed 3 earned runs in 3 innings of relief, took his first loss of the summer.

The Pippins added one in the sixth when Tanner Parker hit an RBI single, but the Knight’s bullpen duo of Colton Meyer and Kevin West shut down Yakima Valley late. West, who struggled on Friday, was rock-solid on Saturday, needing just 15 pitches over 2.1 innings to secure his first save of the summer.

Knight led the way offensively for Corvallis with 4 RBIs in a 2-for-3 day, giving him 6 for the series. Jake Holcroft, Corvallis’ leadoff hitter, was 4-for-5, and Matthew Gretler went 2-for-5 with 2 RBIs. For the Pippins, Parker went 2-for-5, while Henry Gargus, Tyler Rando, Greg Fuchs, and Owen Cobb all also added multi-hit games.

The series concludes on Monday with a 6:35 PM PT first pitch, as the Pippins look to salvage one from the reigning league champions. Mark Woinarowicz will make his second start of the summer for the Pippins, opposing a to-be-announced starter for Corvallis. Pregame coverage with Miles Klotz begins at 6:20 PM.

By Miles Klotz

June 24, 2019