River Dogs shelled by Shockers

Seattle knocks three home runs in 16-4 win

Ryne Phillips had a week off for football, dusted the rust off and went to battle against the Seattle Shockers.

After eight batters faced in the first inning, it was going to be a long night for Phillips and the rest of the River Dogs crew. Seattle put up 16 runs and allowed four in the 16-4 win over Columbia Basin on Monday.

The River Dogs were coming off their fifth straight game in as many days and the Shockers took advantage.

"You play this game and you are going to get your butt kicked," River Dog manager Randy Boruff said. "We get a good old fashioned butt kicking and it came at a great time."

Columbia Basin, who was short on pitching arms, pushed for opportunities at the plate, yet, came up short with four runs on 12 hits.

Seattle never missed.

The Shockers hit the ball hard, picking up 15 hits and 16 runs, including three home runs in the game. Even with a defense that picked up three errors in the game, the pitching performance on the mound slowed the offensive pursuit by the River Dogs.

"What bothers me the most was I didn't think the pitcher was overpowering," Boruff said. "Our kids are not making the adjustments."

After a big three-run inning to open the game for the Shockers, Columbia Basin bounced back with two runs of its own. Brady Lamb led off with a single and scored on Josh Walker's shot back up the middle. Rudy Valdez picked up an RBI, scoring Walker on a double off the center field wall.

Seattle followed with three more runs in the second, a run in the fourth and three runs off two home runs in the sixth.

The Shockers put the game out of reach in the seventh with six runs and pushing the lead to 16-2.

Columbia Basin rallied one last time in the bottom of the seventh after Brad Tracy led the inning off with a single back up the middle. Kyle Wilmot added a single, moving Tracy to third and Lamb picked up his only RBI of the game with a ground out to third base.

Derek O'Konek drove in the last run of the game with a single to center field.

The River Dogs prepare for the BNW III Classic Tournament on Wednesday in Spokane. Columbia Basin will have another shot at Seattle on Friday.

"We face them Friday in Spokane and we get a chance to redeem ourselves," Boruff said.