Extra-Inning Thriller: Pickles Outlast Elks in Wild One-Game Series
After rainouts at Walker Stadium on Friday and Saturday, Sunday finally brought Portland baseball back — and it delivered a heart-thumper. In their first extra-innings game of the season, the Pickles tied it up on a sac fly in the bottom of the ninth before walking it off in the tenth, outlasting the Bend Elks 7-6 in what turned out to be a thrilling one-game series. With West Coast League extra-innings rules placing runners on second and third in the tenth inning, the pressure was on — and the Pickles, once again, delivered.
The scoring began in the bottom of the second, as newcomer Jared Lewis (San Jose State) lined a double into the right-center gap to score two and secure a Pickles lead. Josh Schleichardt (Vanguard University) followed that up the only way he seems to know this season — launching a towering solo home run to left-center field in the third, his 11th of the season. Tony Otis (University of the Pacific) then set the table in the sixth with a one-out double, and newcomer Jared Lewis drove in another on a sac fly ripped out to left field. The Bend squad didn’t make it easy, as the Elks took the lead in the top of the eighth via a passed ball and a two-run single that never left the infield. With a new sense of urgency in the ninth, Tony Otis led off with a single, followed by a Jared Lewis infield single and pinch hitter Bryson Glassco (Oregon State) getting plunked to load the bases. Second baseman Kyle McDaniel (Utah Tech) was able to tie it up with a sac fly to left field to send it to extra innings.
The Elks scored one in the top half, leaving the Pickles needing one good swing to go home with a win. Aiden Taurek (St. Mary's College of California) wasted no time, sending a ground ball base hit up the middle — just sneaking beneath the second baseman’s glove — scoring two runs and sending the crowd into a frenzy. He was mobbed at first base as the Pickles came out of this one-game series with another win. Portland continues to expand on its great start to the West Coast League season, now showcasing an 18-1 record.
The Portland pitching staff kept the Pickles in it throughout, largely due to the contribution from starter Billy Gregory (Grand Canyon University). Gregory went four innings, allowing just two hits and giving up one unearned run. Brady Hudson (University of Northern Colorado) came through in the clutch in this one, giving up only one run in a tenth inning that began with runners on second and third.
At the plate, the Pickles had a couple of standouts near the bottom of the lineup. Jared Lewis made a strong impression in his debut, hitting eighth and going two for three with three RBIs and a run of his own. Tony Otis had a strong day right in front of him, going two for three with a walk and scoring two runs. It’s also hard to overlook both Kyle McDaniel for his game-tying sac fly in the ninth and Aiden Taurek for his walk-off two-run single.
Next up, the Pickles (18-1) head to Walla Walla (12-9) to take on the Sweets in their second head-to-head series of the year. Walla Walla still finds itself as the only team to defeat the Pickles this season, but this Portland team is still rolling and shows no signs of slowing down. Pickles All-Stars will be back in town this week, so come out to Walker Stadium to enjoy the beautiful weather and watch some fun baseball on Tuesday at iPad Baby & Brain Rot Extravaganza night.