Falcons Win Streak Ends

The Kelowna Falcons saw their five-game win streak come to an end on Friday night as they fell in the opener of their three-game series to the Portland Pickles by a 10-3 score at Walker Stadium.

Gio Diaz reached base five times while Gabe Skoro collected three RBI’s as the Pickles scored seven unanswered runs to end the Falcons win streak at five and open the series with a big win on their home field.

The Pickles got the scoring going in the first inning after a Diaz double with two outs, Brody Barnum hit a weak chopper back to the mound with Jared Akin coming to play it but overthrew Drew Williams at first base and allowed Diaz to score from second on the error and give Portland a 1-0 lead.

After two innings of scoreless ball, the Falcons offence broke through for their first lead of the game coming in the 3^rd inning as Drew Williams singled through the hole at shortstop and third base to tie the game before Dan Pruitt hit a ball to Diaz at short and legged out an infield single to give Kelowna a 2-1 advantage. Taylor Wright capped off the scoring in the inning with an RBI ground out and put the Falcons ahead by a 3-1 score.

The Pickles pressed, scoring a run in the 4^th inning on a two-out RBI single before Carson Breashears led off the 5^th inning with a solo home run over the wall in right field to tie the game. Another two-out RBI hit came off the bat of Joey Cooper to give the Pickles their second, and eventual final, lead of the game at 4-3.

Two more runs came in to score on a two-run double off the bat of Skoro in the 7^th inning before Portland brought 10 batters to the plate in the 8^th inning and driving in four runs as Portland took control of the game and got ahead by a 10-3 score.

Kelowna was held without a hit for the final five innings of play as Portend relief pitching did an excellent job in keeping the Falcons bats quiet and held them to just five hits in the game. Akin took the loss for Kelowna while Joel Casillas earned the victory.

The second game of the three-game weekend series goes on Saturday night as the Falcons (20-14/6-2) look for revenge against the Pickles (21-12/4-3) for a 7:05 PM first pitch. Each and every Falcons game is broadcasted live on mixlr.com/kelowna_falcons with the Voice of the Falcons, Trevor Miller.