Bettinger burner gives Rockets a walk-off

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In back-to-back innings, the Rockets left the potential go-ahead run standing 90 feet away.

The next time they had a runner in scoring position, he represented the would-be winner.

They finally brought him home.

Malave Bettinger roped an opposite-field single to left field and Dustin Lewis raced home from second base as the throw from the outfield was off the mark to give the Portland Rockets a 3-2, walk-off win in the 10th inning Wednesday night at Portland Memorial Park’s Runkle-Miller Field.

“Guys on first and second with one out, I’m just looking for something to put in play,” said Bettinger, who was 0-for-3 with a walk in his previous four plate appearances. “I know with Dustin’s speed on second I just have to get the ball in the outfield and he’s going to do the rest.”

Lewis was previously hitless, including two of Portland’s dozen strikeouts, in four tries, but led off the bottom of the 10th with a single to left field. He tagged up to second on a Cody Krumlauf sacrifice fly to deep right field.

Richmond’s Phil Hobbs, who entered as the Roosters’ seventh pitcher of the night, intentionally walked Zach Tanner to put two on.

Bettinger fouled off Hobbs’ first pitch, and watched the second go for a ball. The former Coldwater Cavalier then hit a scorching grounder to left field.

It was almost too much of a worm-burner. As Lewis rounded third, Richmond’s left fielder launched the ball toward the plate but it was off the mark and Lewis scored the game winner.

“Dustin read it well and he scored standing up,” said Portland Rockets manager Randy Miller, whose team ends its regular season at 8-13. “Good for Malave coming through in the clutch because we knew they were going to walk Tanner.

“(Lewis’s) base running got him into scoring position. Got the key hit to start the inning.”

Portland’s offense came through when it hadn’t for most of the night.

The Rockets went on top, 2-1, thanks to three walks and a single — all with two outs — in the top of the third inning. But Chris Gaines struck out to end the threat.

Richmond tied the game in the next half-inning, and Portland was primed to take the lead but fell short. Jay County High School graduate Max Moser singled to lead off the Portland fourth, and Zeth Tanner followed with a double to put runners on second and third. Consecutive strikeouts and a groundout kept them there.

Zach Tanner led off the bottom of the fifth inning with a two-base error before reaching third on a groundout to second. He too, was left in scoring position as a strikeout and a grounder got Richmond out of the jam.

As the game went to extras, though, Portland gave its biggest crowd of the season — its annual Crossroads Night — its money’s worth.

Miller said it best explaining the famed Rocket rally: “When it came down to the nitty-gritty we got something going.”

Chandler Jacks, another Jay County graduate who spent the last couple weeks in Germany, had a quality start on the bump for his hometown team but did not factor into the decision.

The right-hander allowed two runs — one earned — on just four hits in seven innings. He struck out two and walked one on 98 pitches.

Portland’s defense strong behind him too, turning a double play in the sixth inning and picking off one runner. The Tanners, who manned the left side of the infield, helped Jacks out too. Zach, the shortstop, barehanded a ball in the first inning, and Zeth made a diving stop at third. On both occasions, as well as others, Bettinger completed the putout with long stretches at first base.

“Defense is everything,” Bettinger. “That made Chandler be confident with what he threw.”

Zach Tanner led the Rockets with three singles, and Gaines had a solo home run in the second inning.

Jacob Morris drew a bases-loaded walk for the team’s other RBI.