Pippins Drop Opener Against Sweets

A ninth-inning rally by the Pippins fell short Saturday night, as they dropped a 4-3 decision to the Walla Walla Sweets at The Orchard in State Fair Park.

Walla Walla (4-3) got on the board in the top of the second against Yakima Valley starter Mitch Yada behind an RBI single off the bat of Matt Whitney, but that would be the only run over the first four innings, as Yada and Sweets’ starter Micah Gorman battled back and forth.

Both sides exchanged a run in the fifth, but the Sweets added a run in the sixth and another in the seventh to gain some separation and go up, 4-1.

After relievers Connor Lau and Matt Campbell worked scoreless eighth and ninth innings, respectively, the Pippins (5-2) did their best to stage a comeback in the bottom of the ninth. Yakima Valley got the first three hitters aboard and scored two runs, but Sweets’ pitcher Jake Simmons held off the charge and preserved the win for the Sweets.

Branson Trube finished 2-4 with an RBI out of the leadoff spot, while Reid Martinez also had two hits, including an RBI double in the ninth.

The Pippins suffered their second consecutive loss in Saturday’s contest after starting the season 5-0 and will look to get back in the win column Sunday at 5:05 p.m. against the Sweets. Darrion Simons is slated to start on the mound for the Pippins. Kids 12 and under get in for just $1 and tickets can be purchased online at PippinsBaseball.com or by calling (509) 575-HITS.

Listen in on 1460 ESPN Yakima starting at 4:55.