Pippins Shatter Offensive Records in Big Win Over Ridgefield

YAKIMA, Wash. – The Yakima Valley Pippins shattered numerous team offensive records and rolled from the start to the finish in a 21-8 win over the Ridgefield Raptors on Saturday at Yakima County Stadium, opening up a three-game series with a resounding win.

The Pippins (8-9, 19-24) rebounded from scoring one total run in their last 18 innings of baseball by pounding Raptors (5-8, 18-22) starter Hayden Minich early and often. In the first inning, the Pippins sent ten men to the plate, with Tyler Dean’s 2-run, opposite-field double down the left-field line capping off a 5-run, 5-hit inning. In the third inning, the Pippins added four more off of Minich, with Eddy Pelc sending a three-run homer over the right field fence, his first big fly of the summer.

Pelc and the Pippins offense knocked Minich out after three innings, but a parade of Ridgefield relievers could not stop the bleeding. The Pippins tagged Carter Powell for five runs in the fourth inning, and, after surrendering five runs in the top of the seventh to cut the lead down to 15-8, Yakima Valley scored 6 more in the 7th to top the previous team record of 16 runs by getting to 21.

On a day with all the offensive fireworks, two Pippins stood out – Pelc, who reached in all 7 of his trips to the plate, including five walks and the home run, and James Bell, whose five hits in 6 trips were the most by a Pippin in over three years. Bell also added 3 RBIs, one of five players with multiple RBIs for the Pippins.

A.J. Wood got the start on the mound for Yakima Valley and was strong through three before struggling in the fourth inning, and left after 3.1 innings, allowing 2 earned runs. Mark Woinarowicz earned the win in relief despite surrendering 6 runs on 6 hits in 3.2 innings. Dominic Miller threw two scoreless innings to close out the game for the Pippins.

The series continues on Sunday with a 6:05 PM first pitch from the Orchard. The Pippins will send right-hander Trystan Vrieling to the mound, opposite a to-be-announced starter for the Raptors. Pregame coverage with Miles Klotz begins at 5:50 PM at pippinsbaseball.com/live.

By Miles Klotz

July 28, 2019