Pirates clinch Aloha series

Thunell leads charge to victory

MOSES LAKE — With two outs and two on in the bottom of the fourth inning, Bo Thunell belted a two-run double to left-center field that broke the game open for the Pirates as they went on to defeat the Aloha Knights 6-2 Thursday evening.

With the win, Moses Lake took the series two games to one and evened their season record at 3-3. After starting the season 0-2, the Pirates have won three of their last four games.

In the game changing fourth inning, Boo Christenson led off with a single to left and was pushed up to second base when designated hitter Brent Rushin drew a walk. After a passed ball let the runners move to second and third, Richie Snider gave the Pirates a 2-1 lead with a grounder that brought Christenson home from third base.

Robert Reyes was then hit by a pitch, one of two the Pirates' center fielder took for his team Thursday. Thunell followed Reyes with his two-RBI double. Thunell finished the night 3-for-4 from the plate with a pair of stolen bases and a defensive play at second base.

With one out in the top of the fifth, Aloha's Tyler Moore sliced a soft liner between first and second base. Thunell drifted back to his left and grabbed the ball at the top of his leap for the second out of the inning. The play would prove to be an important one as Aloha followed by moving runners to second and third before Moses Lake could get out of the inning.

"Everyone fed off Bo Thunell," said Moses Lake coach Gabe Boruff.

As good as Thunell's snare at second was, it finished a distant second in the running for defensive play of the game. With one out in the eighth, Aloha's Brent Morel drilled a line drive to left that was drifting away from left fielder Christenson. The speedy Pirates' outfielder charged hard to his right and made a fully-extended diving catch to rob Morel of extra bases.

While the defense stepped up at crucial times for the Pirates, the pitching staff put together another strong performance. Starter Mikey Griffith gave up a run in the first inning, but then settled in and pitched four straight scoreless innings to earn the victory.

"He came back, which was nice," said Boruff of Griffith's ability to survive the 27-pitch first inning. "Our starting pitching is giving us a chance to win. That is all you can ask."

Four Moses Lake relievers each worked one inning to finish up the game for the Pirates. Among those relievers was Warden's Jorge Reyes, who made his Pirates' debut by retiring the side in order in the seventh inning.

While pitching seems to be the strength of the team, Boruff believes the Pirates' offense will continue to improve as the season progresses.

"I have a lot of confidence with our hitters," said the Pirates coach.