Manson’s Big Night Keeps Pippins Alive

VICTORIA, B.C – With a Corvallis win earlier Wednesday night, the Pippins were in a position where they had to win to stay alive in the playoff race. With the pressure on, they delivered, knocking off the Victoria HarbourCats, 8-5, at Royal Athletic Park.

After being held to eight combined runs in the first two games of the series, the Pippins (27-24) brought out the bats early Wednesday and staked a quick 1-0 lead against Victoria (27-23) with a run in the 2^nd on an RBI double from AJ Sawyer.

The HarbourCats tied the game with a home run in the 4^th, but the Pippins had a big answer in the 5^th. Yakima Valley scored four runs in the inning – all with two outs – including a two-run double from Jake Manson to go up, 5-1.

Victoria hit a two-run homer in the 5^th to close within two at 5-3, but the Pippins scored a run in each of the final three frames to close out strong and hold on for the win.

Manson finished 3-4 with 4 RBI and a walk Wednesday. Sawyer was 2-5 with 2 RBI to help the Pippins stay alive in the wild card race.

Yakima Valley remains 3.5 games behind Corvallis in the wild card race with Wednesday’s win. However, with the next win for Corvallis or the next Pippins loss, Yakima Valley will be knocked out of playoff contention. The Pippins have Thursday off and will return home to take on Wenatchee in a three-game series, starting Friday at 7:05 pm.