Box Score
FRESNO, Calif. --- Portland outfielders Bryant Kraus and Craig Smith both belted a home run and knocked in four runs as the Pilots routed the Buffalo Bulls 19-6 at the Pepsi/Johnny Quick Classic on Friday afternoon at Beiden Field. The Pilots, who had 21 hits, set season highs in both runs and hits.
Smith went 4-for-5 on the day, while Kraus, sophomore 2B Riley Henricks and freshman OF Garrett Queen each finished with three hits.
It’s the second straight win at the classic for the Pilots, who improve to 10-7 on the season. UP avenges a loss to Buffalo (7-7) earlier this week.
UP scored six runs in the top of the second inning, three in the third, three more in the fourth, a pair in the fifth and five runs in the sixth to claim a 19-6 lead. The coaches of both teams then decided to end the game after the seventh inning, making it official.
After a scoreless first inning, the Pilots broke loose in the top of the second to claim a 6-0 lead. Junior OF Austin Pearce got the scoring started with an RBI double. Sophomore 3B Kevin Armijo, Kraus, senior 1B Cort Carpenter and Henricks followed with RBI’s of their own to give the Pilots a six-run lead.
Buffalo briefly made things interesting with five runs in the bottom of the second to chase UP starter Brennan Thorpe.
But Portland responded in a major way and didn’t let up until the end of the game. In the third, Kraus and Henricks both knocked in a run with a single, while Queen scored on a wild pitch. Portland’s three runs in the fourth inning came on a two-run homer by Smith and a run-scoring double by Kraus.
With Portland leading 12-5 in the fifth, Armijo added another run with an RBI double, which was followed by a run-scoring single by Smith. Kraus then led off the sixth inning with a solo home run and freshman SS Kris Kauppila followed with a two-run double. Smith capped the scoring for UP with an RBI double to give the Pilots a 14-run advantage lead.
Portland sophomore reliever Tyler Thompson (1-0), who spelled Thorpe after an inning and a third, picks up his first win of the season. The right-hander gave up four hits and an earned run in 4.1 innings. He didn’t walk a batter, while striking out two.
The Pilots touched Buffalo starter Chaz Mye (0-2) for six earned runs in just an inning and two thirds. Four Buffalo relievers didn’t fare much better than Mye.
The Pilots will next wrap-up play the Pepsi/Johnny Quick Classic with another game against Cal State Bakersfield at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday. UP played six games in six days while in Fresno.
