PORTLAND, Ore. --- The Portland Pilots claimed game one of a double header 6-3 over Oakland, but the Golden Grizzlies recovered to win the second game 14-4 on Sunday afternoon at Joe Etzel Field. The split means the two teams split their four-game non-conference series.
The Pilots (5-3) jumped ahead in game one with a run in the bottom of the first inning. With two outs, Caleb Whalen kept the inning alive with a double down the left field line. Cooper Hummel followed with an RBI single to left field go give Portland starter Jordan Horak an early cushion.
And that's all Horak would need as he held the Golden Grizzlies (3-5) hitless during the first three innings. Mike Brosseau singled up the middle with one out in the fourth for Oakland's first hit, but Horak left him stranded.
Meanwhile the Pilots made it a 2-0 game with a run in the bottom of the fourth. With two on and two out, Dan Whittaker sent a single into right field that scored Hummel.
The Golden Grizzlies cut the deficit in half with a solo home run in the fifth, and Oakland greeted new Portland pitcher Jake Hawken with the tying run in the top of the seventh. The visitors combined for three hits in the frame, and Ryan Fitzgerald evened the score 2-2 with an RBI single.
The Pilots immediately responded with three runs in the bottom half of the inning. Whalen had the big hit when he sent a single up the middle that scored two. That followed Michael Forgione's go-ahead, RBI single.
Portland ran into a bit of jam in the eighth when the Golden Grizzlies got runners on second and third with one out. But that's when Billy Sahlinger replaced Marty Luckenbach on the hill and promptly recorded two clutch strikeouts to end the inning and the threat.
The Pilots added an insurance run in the eighth, and Oakland did score one in the ninth before Sahlinger sealed the win.
It's the third save of the year for Sahlinger, and Luckenbach (2-0) gets the win after a brief two-thirds of an inning outing. Horak struck out seven in 6.0 innings, while limiting Oakland to just three hits.
The Pilots out-hit Oakland 11-7 in the first game, and Whalen, Hummel and Whittaker each had two hits.
It looked good early for the Pilots in the second game when Whalen drilled a solo home run in the bottom of the first inning. He left the yard over the fence in left field with his first homer of the year, tying the score at 1-1.
But the tie was short-lived as the Golden Grizzlies touched Portland starter Kevin Baker and reliever Jackson Lockwood for six runs on four hits in the top of the second. Zach Story provided the big hit when came to the plate with the bases loaded and sent a double into the left-center gap. The two-bagger cleared the bases and gave Oakland a cozy lead.
Hummel tallied a sac fly for the Pilots in the fourth, but Oakland added three more runs in the third to push their lead to 10-2 en route to the win.
Baker (0-1) takes the loss, and three more relievers followed Lockwood out of the bullpen.
Oakland's Terry Palm (1-1) earns the win after allowing two runs in 5.0 innings.
Whalen went 4-for-5 during the second game and just missed hitting for the cycle, coming up a triple shy. He also scored three runs.
The Pilots remain at home this week to host Seattle U on Tuesday afternoon at Joe Etzel Field. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.
