Rockets drop four to Tribe

The Rockets won the season opener May 23.

They haven’t won since.

The Portland Rockets lost four straight games to the Midland (Michigan) Tribe over the weekend, dropping doubleheaders Saturday and Sunday.

Portland, losers of five in a row now, fell 4-1 and 8-4 Saturday before 3-0 and 15-3 setbacks Sunday.

The Rockets scored a run in the bottom of the first inning Saturday, only to have the Tribe take the lead with a pair of runs in the fourth inning. Midland added another run in the fifth and one more in the seventh for the win.

Zach Tanner was 2-for-3 with a double, and Chris Krystofiak also had a pair of hits. Cameron Pratt, Noah Collins and Zeth Tanner each singled.

Peyton Smith was charged the loss, allowing two earned runs on three hits in four innings. He walked four and struck out five.

Portland and Midland were tied 3-3 after five innings in game two before the Tribe broke the game open with five runs in the sixth.

Max Moser, a 2018 Jay County High School graduate, led Portland with a single and an RBI, while the Tanner brothers each had a hit.

Jake Van Pelt, a Delta product, surrendered three runs — two earned — on six hits in four innings. He struck out one and walked three.

In game one Sunday, the Rockets managed only three hits and left nine runners on base as they stranded two runners in each of the sixth and seventh innings. Smith singled twice, and Krystofiak also had a single.

Tyler Reynolds went five innings, allowing three earned runs on eight hits while walking one and striking out five as he dipped to 0-2 on the season.

The Tribe jumped on the Rockets for seven runs in the second inning of game two, and added seven more in the top of the seventh inning. Portland, meanwhile, scored once in the second inning and twice in the sixth.

Chandler Locke had two hits for Portland, which also got a single and two RBIs from Caleb Mealy. Cameron Pratt and Smith each chipped in singles.

Krystofiak was charged with the loss. He allowed seven earned runs on six hits in just 1 1/3 innings. He walked four batters.

Portland will look to end its skid at 7 p.m. Wednesday against the Grand Lake Mariners at Montgomery Field in Celina, Ohio. The Rockets return home for a 7 p.m. game Friday against the Fort Wayne Jackers.