Drifters Win Fourth Straight Series with DH Split vs Pickles
(Photo by Isaac Abrego)
By Addison Cerezo
PORTLAND — Cooper Mullens stepped out of the on-deck circle with a runner on first and one out in the top of the first inning. Hitting with runners on had been one of his many strengths this summer, and he was looking to start the game off right for his team. But before he could step into the box, lightning struck. The field was cleared, and Mullens would have to wait until the next day to see a pitch. Twenty hours later, Mullens roped the second pitch he saw into left field for a base hit, finally unloading on a pitch he was supposed to have seen the day before.
The Springfield Drifters (17-25, 14-19) split the two games on Thursday with the Portland Pickles (21-21, 18-17), bouncing back from a heartbreaking walk-off loss in Game 1 with a ten-run outburst in Game 2. Patient hitting followed by big, timely blows created the perfect machine to manufacture runs.
After finding themselves in a 2-0 hole in the second inning of Game 1, the Drifters were able to build some momentum after a pickoff attempt from starter Kaden Harris took a bad hop and first baseman Nolan Miller made a fantastic throw across the diamond to nab the Portland runner attempting to go first to third on the play.
The positive momentum from the play carried over into the top of the third as the first two batters of the inning reached via free passes, before a double play put two outs on the board. Second baseman Mullens kept the inning alive with an infield single before Nolan Miller walked on five pitches, loading the bases.
Designated hitter Evan Thomas, who also walked on five pitches, brought home Springfield’s first run. Mullens and Miller scored just seconds later when catcher LJ Layhew smoked a double down the right field line, giving the Drifters the lead.
Utilityman Matthew Bolinger kept the offense rolling with his second base knock of the day, bringing home Thomas and making it a 4-spot for Springfield. Bolinger ended 2-for-3, his first multi-hit contest as a Drifter in just his fourth game.
“He’s a really good hitter,” head coach Jeff Lyle said between games. “He’s really good behind the plate and really just a savvy baseball guy.”
The Pickles tied the game in the fifth inning with an RBI single. Drew Miller came out of the bullpen and pitched two scoreless innings, keeping the game within reach.
“It’s nice having a guy like Drew in the back end,” Lyle said with confidence. “He’s poised, he’s calm, he’s always under control.”
In the seventh, each team threatened, but ultimately each walked away with no runs, meaning extra innings were needed.
The eighth inning started with a great bunt from Nolan Miller, moving both ghost runners up 90 feet into scoring position. But a strikeout and a popout ended the Drifters’ half of the eighth.
Blake Stavros came in to relieve Drew Miller and was able to get an out before a misplayed bunt loaded the bases and a wild pitch walked it off for the pickles.
GAME 2
The Drifters' offense was scorching hot to start Game 2 after a close loss in the opener. Six of the first eight batters reached base, including utilityman Chase Nye, who walked and scored on a balk to lead off the game.
Moments later, Evan Thomas roped a single to left-center field, scoring Nolan Miller, who started Game 2 in right field.
The lead was doubled when third baseman Jaycob Villalpando was hit by a pitch, and three pitches later, left fielder Karsten Hansen legged out an infield single to make it 4-0.
Springfield’s offense wasn’t able to capitalize in the coming innings, as their lead shrank to one by the fourth, when righty Trey Thompson needed just six pitches to record three outs and get out of a jam.
“It was a test of wills today,” Lyle remarked. “To come out and put up four, and then don’t [score] again until the fifth inning and having them punch back, only for us to score six in the inning is huge.”
The momentum carried over to the Drifters’ offense, when the bases became loaded on a single and two walks. A pitching change didn’t help the Pickles’ situation, as Karsten Hansen watched four straight fastballs miss the zone, bringing a much-needed insurance run across.
Chase Nye roped a two-run single to ease the minds of Drifters fans and bring the lead back to four.
One batter later, CSUF outfielder Hunter Meyer demolished an 0-1 fastball deep to left field for a 350-foot, 3-run blast to stretch the Springfield lead to seven.
“This will be Meyer Park when he leaves here,” Lyle said half-jokingly.
Two runs in the fifth and one in the sixth were Portland’s answer to the six-spot put up by Springfield, which shrank the lead back down to 4.
Lefty Owen Cheyne came into the game to start the sixth, and went two hitless frames, striking out two to seal the deal for the Drifters and give them their fourth straight series win.
“He didn’t throw at all last year, so to see him come out in a big situation like this is incredible,” Lyle said.
The Drifters return home to open a three-game set against the Marion Berries on Friday. First pitch is scheduled for 5:05 p.m.
On Friday night, the Drifters are holding their first-ever post-game concert during Country Night! Springfield native Austin Gilbert, who was a contestant on the 28th season of NBC’s The Voice, will be performing after the game. Bicoastal Media will be giving away tickets to the Zach Bryan concert on Saturday Night at Autzen Stadium. Tickets are available at Driftersbaseball.com.