Your #15 Oregon Ducks played host to the Portland Pilots, looking to keep momentum going after a 4-1 road trip last week. The game kicked off with both sides grabbing a single in their half of the inning, but both runners would be stranded. 2nd inning? Another single for U of P, but he would be stranded once more. The Ducks would go down in order to close the inning. Onto the third inning, where with one out in the top half, the Pilots would score the first run of the ballgame on a solo home run that
was just barely out of the reach of RF Angel Laya, 1-0 Pilots. The Ducks would once again go down in order in the bottom half of the third. In the top of the 4th, it was Portland’s turn to go down 1-2-3, while the Ducks would get their first baserunner since the first inning with a leadoff walk drawn by Jax Gimenez, but he would unfortunately be left stranded after stealing 2nd base. In the 5th, Oregon would get their first real shot to do some damage, loading the bases with just one out (a Burke-Lee Mabeus HBP, a Brayden Jaksa walk, and a Josh Schleichardt pinch-hit walk). But, alas, the Ducks would not score after a 3-pitch strikeout from Ryan Cooney, and a Jax Gimenez groundout. Still 1-0 U of P.
The Pilots would go down in order in the top of the 6th, while Oregon would work another one-out walk, but he would once again be stranded. In the 7th, both sides would put a man on via walks, but neither would advance past first, and the Pilots would take a 1-0 lead to the 8th. Oregon would put some traffic on the bases once again in the bottom of the 8th, with a 1-out single from Gimenez and a walk from Dom Hellman, but they would be denied yet again, and end the inning with two quick outs from Drew Smith and Angel Laya, as the Pilots took that 1-0 lead into the 9th.
But, unfortunately for Oregon fans, that’s where things would change. Portland would lead off the inning with a walk, and two batters later hit an absolute missile of a home run to left field, making it 3-0 Pilots. The Pilots would then load the bases with three straight singles, but would do no more damage, with the next two batters striking out swinging. And, just for good measure, the Ducks would be retired in order yet again, ending the game.
Well… That was one of the worst offensive performances I’ve seen from the Ducks in a while. But I’m going to choose to be positive and highlight the pitching performances of Ryan Featherston, Miles Gosztola, Luke Morgan, and Michael Meckna. Combined, they allowed 8 hits (half of which were in the 9th) and struck out 11 batters. Gosztola in particular pitched very well, tossing 5.2 innings of 3 hit, one run ball with 7 strikeouts. The pitching was good today. Not perfect, but absolutely good enough to win if the offense played like they’re capable. I’m still optimistic about this ballclub. I’ve seen what they can do, and I expect them to look better in their next series.
As always, ‘Sco Ducks
