Pirates split with RiverHawks
Miles Douglass/Columbia Basin HeraldMoses Lake third baseman (5) Brandon Huerta bats against the Bend Elks July 15 at Larson Playfield. The Pirates split a two game series with the Spokane RiverHawks Aug. 3 and Aug. 4 in Spokane.
Moses Lake wins one of two games with Spokane
SPOKANE - The Moses Lake Pirates split a two game road series with the Spokane RiverHawks on Aug. 3 and Aug. 4.
The series split dropped the Pirates record to 12-26 for the season.
The Pirates took the first game of the series 5-4 in ten innings.
Moses Lake scored one run in the top of the first inning when Cesar Lopez singled with one out and scored when Brock Gates hit a sacrifice fly to left field.
The Pirates added a run in the third inning, and another in the fourth inning to take a 3-0 lead over Spokane.
The RiverHawks responded with two runs in the fourth to cut the Moses Lake advantage to 3-2.
Moses Lake added another run in the fifth inning to take a 4-2 lead when catcher Nick Stiltner singled up the middle to score D.C. Legg from second base.
The Pirates held off the RiverHawks until the eighth inning when Spokane scored two runs to tie the game 4-4.
After a scoreless ninth inning, the RiverHawks and Pirates went to extra innings.
In the top of the tenth, Heil hit a solo home run with two outs to give the Pirates a 5-4 lead.
The Pirates kept the Spokane offense off the scoreboard to earn the victory in the opening game of the series.
In the series finale Spokane defeated Moses Lake 5-2 for the victory at home. Spokane had five runs on ten hits, while Moses Lake scored two runs on five hits.
Moses Lake pitcher Matt Lujan was charged with the loss, sending his season record with the Pirates to 1-4.
Spokane drew first blood when it scored two first inning runs.
The Pirates responded with two runs in the third inning.
Nick Stiltner fouled out to first to lead off the inning. Ty Rubio walked and advanced to second when Dane Yelovich bunted for a single.
Brandon Huerta struck out swinging, and Lopez singled through the left side with two outs to score Rubio.
Yelovich stole third and scored when Lopez was thrown out attempting to steal second.
After Moses Lake tied the game in the third inning, Spokane went on to score unanswered runs in the fifth, sixth, and eight innings to distance themselves from Moses Lake for the 5-2 victory.
The Pirates play its final home game at Larson Playfield Thursday night with Host Family and Fan Appreciation Night.
Moses Lake closes out its season on the road with a three game series in Canada against the Kelowna Falcons this weekend.