Rogues Split Opening Doubleheader
Medford bounced back from a 3-2 loss to Seattle Cheney with a 4-2 win Friday night after weather pushed Thursday’s opener into a doubleheader.
MEDFORD, Ore. — One night late, the Medford Rogues gave their fans twice the baseball.
After Thursday night’s scheduled game against the Seattle Cheney Studs was postponed because of weather, the teams returned to Harry & David Field on Friday for a seven-inning doubleheader that gave Medford a little bit of everything: a late comeback attempt, a narrow loss, and then a bounce-back win to close the night.
The Rogues split the two-game set with Seattle Cheney, falling 3-2 in the opener before answering with a 4-2 win in game two.
In the first game, Seattle Cheney grabbed an early lead and made it stand up despite a late push from Medford. The Studs scored first in the second inning on a solo home run by Jackson Copeland, then added another run in the fifth to take a 2-0 lead.
Medford finally broke through in the seventh inning, when the Rogues put together a late rally. Evan Saito singled in Kian Sanchez to cut the deficit to 3-1, and Diego Gabriel followed with an RBI fielder’s choice that brought Chris Ortiz home and pulled Medford within one.
The Rogues brought the tying run into the picture, but Seattle Cheney held on for the 3-2 win.
Chris Ortiz led Medford offensively in the opener, going 2-for-3 with a run scored. Saito and Gabriel each drove in a run, while Sanchez, Larsen Koester and Jaden Neugebauer also recorded hits.
On the mound, Dylan Fanelli started for the Rogues and allowed two runs on two hits over 4.1 innings, striking out four. Hayden Kindreich followed with 1.2 scoreless innings, and Will Salihar worked the seventh.
Arial view of Harry & David Field, home of the Medford Rogues. Image provided by Medford Rogues.
Medford did not wait long to respond.
In the second game, the Rogues struck first when Jackson Rosenthal singled home Daniel Behrmann in the second inning to give Medford a 1-0 lead. Seattle Cheney tied the game in the third, but Rosenthal came through again in the fourth with another RBI single, this time scoring Reid Linkmeyer to put the Rogues back in front.
Medford added to the lead in the fifth when Anthony Thomas Jr. tripled to bring home Jonathan Walsh, making it 3-1. After Seattle Cheney cut the lead to 3-2 in the top of the sixth, Jaden Neugebauer doubled to center field in the bottom half, scoring Will Salihar and giving the Rogues an insurance run.
That was enough for the Medford pitching staff.
Lorenzo Lew earned the win for the Rogues, working 5.1 innings while allowing two runs, only one earned, on four hits. He struck out six and walked three. Caleb Randolph finished the game with 1.2 scoreless innings, allowing one hit and striking out three to help Medford secure the 4-2 victory.
Rosenthal finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs in the win, while Thomas added a triple and an RBI. Neugebauer doubled and drove in a run, and Medford also got stolen bases from Sanchez, Salihar and Behrmann.
The split gives the Rogues a quick reset heading into the rest of opening weekend.
The series continues Saturday night at Harry & David Field with Country Night. Fans are encouraged to arrive early, with the Cody Ponder Band scheduled to perform during batting practice beginning at 4:30 p.m. First pitch against the Seattle Cheney Studs is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.
The Rogues and Studs are also scheduled to close the series Sunday afternoon, with first pitch set for 1:05 p.m.
Cover image: Players gather on the field before Game 1 of Friday’s doubleheader between the Medford Rogues and Seattle Cheney Studs at Harry & David Field in Medford. Fans can follow Rogues games live on YouTube (@medfordroguesbaseball).
Image from video courtesy of the Medford Rogues.
Recent Sports
