Pippins Win Sixth Straight at The Orchard

Shanks' two-run home run lifts team to victory

The Yakima Valley Pippins earned a series win in their second game against the Cowlitz Black Bears as they won Wednesday’s game, 7-4.

Alex Shanks broke a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the fourth inning by bouncing a 388-foot line drive off the scoreboard in left field for a two-run home run. Later in the inning, Taylor Holder walked and stole second base after escaping a rundown. He would move to third base and score on two wild pitches to give the Pippins a 5-2 lead.

Dylan Bishop started on the mound and delivered a quality start, allowing two runs on five hits over six innings of work. He walked three and struck out five.

Connor Coballes led off the bottom of the fifth inning with his first double of the season. He moved to third on a single by Blake Dickman and scored when Michael Carpentier Jr. beat out a double play ball that saw Dickman put out at second base.

Julian Taudin-Chabot came on in relief for the seventh and eighth innings, allowing one run in each inning. He allowed two hits and struck out two while walking a pair.

The Pippins scored their final run in the seventh inning, when Spencer Marenco singled and Coballes hit his second double of the game to put runners on second and third base. With the infield playing in, Carpentier Jr. hit a bouncer back to the mound, but the throw home was high and Marenco was able to slide under the tag to give the Pippins a 7-3 lead at the time.

Taudin-Chabot (1-0, 10.12 ERA) gave way to Owen Wild in the ninth in a save situation. Wild struck out the first two batters he faced before hitting a batter and getting a groundout to end the game.

Wild (2-0, 2.79 ERA) received his fourth save of the season while Bishop (5-1, 4.25 ERA) was credited with his team-high fifth win of the season for his efforts.

The Pippins (25-13, 10-4 in the second half) and Black Bears (16-19, 6-5) conclude their series Thursday night on Essential Workers Night, with fireworks to follow the game. It is also a Thirsty Thursday, and first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

By Chris Rosato Jr.

July 29, 2021