Moses Lake slows losing skid

Chiefs split with Walla Walla to end eight-game skid, long shot to reach Big Nine district playoffs

MOSES LAKE — If there was any time that Moses Lake needed a sweep, it was Tuesday.

Unfortunately, it didn't happen.

Walla Walla (6-12) managed to split with the Chiefs, losing the first game 4-3 in nine innings, before taking the nightcap 2-1 at Larson Playfield. With the second — game loss, Moses Lake (7-11) remained on the outside of the playoff picture, needing the sweep to remain in contention.

To make the picture more fuzzy, the Chiefs face off against Pasco on Friday with their entire season on the line. Pasco remains three games ahead of Moses Lake in the standings.

"This is a sad state of affairs, holy smokes," said a frustrated Moses Lake head coach Ed McNamara.

The Chiefs now have to rely on Kennewick to lose their last two games against Walla Walla, while sweeping the Bulldogs to create a tie for sixth-place in the standings.

"We have to win two and we still have an outside chance," McNamara said

Moses Lake saved the drama for their matchup with the Blue Devils, going to the wire in both games. Starting with the day game, Derek Dietzen came in to relieve Chad Hunter in the fifth and faced runners in scoring position through the ninth before Walla Walla came up with the mistake and walked Brad Tracy with the bases loaded in the ninth to hand the Chiefs the 4-3 win.

In game two, Brandon Price got tagged with a run in the top of the first after David Cerna hit a one-out double, advanced to third and scored on Chase Hessler's fly out to left field. From there, Price went 5 1/3 innings, allowing just the one run on two hits and striking out seven before leaving in the sixth with the bases loaded and one out.

Josh Munoz took over and forced Jake Hetterly into a 1-2-3 double play to end the inning.

But, Walla Walla got its break in the seventh after Micah Babbitt reached base on a shortstop throwing error. Munoz had been at position until he took over the mound, but even with him there, McNamara didn't think the out could have been made.

"That was a tough play and I look at that and I don't know if Munoz would have made that," McNamara said. "(Chase Hunter) had to rush his throw."

Babbitt moved to second on the throwing error and reached third on a bunt before scoring on Jame Lemus' ground out.

Then down a run in the bottom of the seventh, Chad Hunter was hit by a pitch, Brady Coker and Dietzen were both retired and Curran Redal and Munoz both walked to load the bases with two outs. Jeremy Martinez then swung on the first pitch, which dribbled to the third baseman, who made the out at first.

"Jeremy jumped out in front of that pitch and couldn't make anything happen," McNamara said.

The Chiefs started the season with a 6-2 record, before losing their next eight games to fall to 6-10 on the season. And while the split with Walla Walla put a dent in that losing streak, Moses Lake put themselves on the back of another team for a shot at the playoffs.

"We are making little mistakes and they are hurting us," McNamara said.