Falcons Sweep Sweets
- Updated: June 9, 2016
The Falcons brought their brooms down to Walla Walla this week and completed the sweep against the Sweets, capping off the three-game series with a 5-4 victory on Thursday night. Taking all three games of the series brings the Falcons’ season record to 5-1, good for first place in the West Coast League’s North division.
After dropping the season opener last week, the Falcons have found a nice rhythm and are starting to carve out an identity. They have grown into a feisty team, often clawing their way back into games and playing tough baseball right into the late innings.
That was the case once again Thursday night in Walla Walla where the visiting Falcons found themselves down by a score of 4-1 heading into the top of the seventh inning. Their tenacity showed once again as outfielder Kurtis Kloke started the offense off by getting hit by a pitch. Chandler Roberston followed that up with a walk of his own. A wild pitch got the walked Falcons running and Kloke made his way across home plate, opening up third for Roberston. Speedy outfielder Joseph Shepherd kept with the trend, walking his way on base, setting the stage for Jace McKinney to bring Roberston home with a RBI single. Shepherd and McKinney moved themselves onto second and third with a pair of stolen bases, both making it home by the end of the inning and grabbing a 5-4 lead for their club.
The Falcons got seven hits from five players tonight, with Lane Lacrone and Brendt Citta both mustering up two-hit nights. Thursday’s match-up was a sample of what has been a blistering hot start for Lacrone, who has reached safely in all six games this season, gathering hits in all but one, where he got aboard via walk. His .391 batting average, 9 base hits, and 6 RBI in that span are among league leaders in each category.
The Falcons pitchers can certainly take some pride in Thursday’s outing, as righties Riley Moore and Cameron Jack pitched a combined 7 1/3 innings in relief of starter Leif Strom who was tossed in just the second inning. Following a called balk Strom and the umpires had a short “discussion,” which resulted in sending him to showers a bit early. Moore handled the bulk of the relief work, tossing an impressive 6 shutout innings, giving up just two hits and four walks, fanning four along the way to the win.
The Falcons are hoping to ride the momentum from this sweep into this weekend’s home stand against the Victoria Harbourcats (3-3) starting Friday night at Elks Stadium (6:35 PM start). Lefty Jordon Ragan (2.57 ERA) will be on the mound Friday for the home side.
Story courtesy of Matt Inglis – Falcons Media
Photo courtesy of Anthony Fusco – Falcons Play by Play
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