Pippins Take Advantage of Victoria Miscues, Win 6-3

VICTORIA, British Columbia — Four Yakima Valley pitchers combined on a four-hitter, and the Pippins took advantage of costly HarbourCats miscues en route to a 6-3 victory on getaway day Sunday.

The Pippins concluded their six-game swing through Vancouver Island with a 2-4 record, including handing Victoria its first home loss of the season on Sunday. The team returns to Yakima County Stadium for a three-game homestand beginning Tuesday.

Payton Graham notched the win with three innings of no-hit relief, striking out three and walking one. Starter Wyatt Adams gave up just one hit in two innings of work, Jackson Betancourt surrendered two unearned runs and two hits in three innings, and newcomer Owen Egan struck out two and gave up an unearned run in one inning of throwing.

Trailing 3-2, the Pippins took the lead for good with four runs in the eighth. Tommy Eisenstat started the rally with a single and, after taking second on an error, moved to third on Kyle Williamson’s single. Following a walk and a strikeout, Blake Balsz drew an eight-pitch walk that scored Eisenstat, and Williamson scored soon after on a passed ball. An error by the catcher scored another run, and an RBI single by Spencer Shipman closed the scoring.

The Pippins, who knocked out 12 hits, took a 2-0 lead with runs in the first and fourth. Jace Phelan singled home the first run, and Konner Kincade plated the run in the fourth on a bases-loaded groundout.

Eisenstat finished 3-for-5, Phelan and Shipman each were 2-for-4 and Zack Blaszak was 2-for-3.

By Logan Peter

June 19, 2023