Pippins, Lefties Combine for 11 Errors in Series Opener Loss

Pippins unable to recover after six-run first

The Port Angeles Lefties dealt a loss to the Yakima Valley Pippins, 8-2, after taking advantage of four errors in a six-run first inning Tuesday night.

The bad luck for the Pippins began when the first batter of the game, Luke Saunders, reached on an error by Chaz Myers at shortstop. He proceeded to steal second base and eventually score on a wild pitch. 

Pippins starter Seth Kuykendall induced a groundout and struck out Garrett Lake to get him off the hook for all of the runs in the inning.

An error by Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek continued the inning, followed by a pair of base hits and Myers’ second error of the game. 

Jack Holman would double two more runners home before an error by Mason Marenco allowed a sixth run to score. The four errors in the first inning is the most in an inning for the Pippins this season.

Kuykendall (0-2, 2.78 ERA) mostly settled in from there, giving up just two earned runs total over four more innings of work.

The Pippins offense was uncharacteristically stagnant as they failed to capitalize on six errors committed by the Lefties in the game.

Noah Williamson scored both runs for the Pippins, first in the second inning after reaching on a dropped third strike for the third time this season. He advanced to third base on two separate wild pitches, then scored when Mason Marenco grounded into a fielder’s choice.

Lefties starter Justin Miller (1-2, 5.65 ERA) was pulled after walking Martin-Grudzielanek, with one out and runners on first and second base, in favor of Steven Brooks.

Brooks got out of that inning and continued to cruise over 5.2 innings of work. The lone blemish on his line was a solo home run to center by Williamson to lead off the sixth inning that traveled 423 feet.

Brooks (1-0, 1.31 ERA) was credited with the win, and gave way to Tatsuya Uemoto in the eighth, who kept the score the same over the final two innings in a non-save situation.

Weston Janavs (0-0, 0.00 ERA) came on in the sixth and delivered three scoreless innings, allowing just one hit while striking out three. Joey Cammarata (0-0, 12.60 ERA) turned in a scoreless ninth as well.

The Pippins and Lefties continue the series Wednesday, with first pitch delayed to 8:55 p.m. The Pippins respectfully ask that fans arrive no earlier than 8:10, as the gates will not open before that time.

By Chris Rosato Jr.

June 30, 2021