Maybe it was the bus ride.
And the Rogues.
For whatever reasons, the Portland Pickles struggled Tuesday night at Harry & David Field, losing the opener of a six-game trip, 8-1, to Great West League rival Medford.
The Pickles had left on Tuesday morning for Medford, where they also will play the Rogues on Wednesday and Thursday before a three-game set at the Marysville Gold Sox.
Portland was coming off a 4-2 homestand at Walker Stadium, but fell to 2-5 overall on the road this season and 6-7 overall.
Medford (8-5) jumped on Pickles starter Dustin Redish (0-2) for four earned runs in 3 1/3 innings.
The Rogues took a 2-0 lead after the second inning, then made the score 5-3 in the fourth.
Medford pitcher Dylan Pearce (1-0) cuffed the Pickles over seven innings, allowing no runs, four hits and one walk, with 10 strikeouts.
Pearce, a 5-10 right-hander from Crater High, signed a letter-of-intent with Oregon State. He began his college career at Southwestern Oregon Community College and played last summer for the Rogues, making the GWL All-Star Game.
