WCL Walla Walla Sweets

Bells Out-Last Sweets in Saturday

July 21, 2013 - West Coast League (WCL)
Walla Walla Sweets News Release


WALLA WALLA, WA -- It took until the eighth inning for the Bellingham Bells (20-17) to eek out a pair of runs Saturday night, but the visiting team managed to take a 2-1 lead over the Walla Walla Sweets (21-17) late in the game, winding up with a game two victory by that same score at Borleske Stadium. Sweets starting pitcher Chris Lovejoy completed eight strong innings but was saddled with his second loss of the season.

Bells starter Nate Cole faced the minimum number of hitters through his first 5.2 innings of work before catcher Zach Reay ended that string with a hard-hit single to center field with two outs in the sixth inning. Cole struck out six Sweets hitters but exited the game after throwing ninety-nine pitches and allowing an earned run.

That lone run came courtesy of a towering home run to left field off of the bat of Sweets All-Star Matt Mendenhall with two outs in the seventh. Mendenhall leads the team with four homers this year, and teammate Connor Dillman said it's an exciting thing to watch from the bench.

"He's really heating up," Dillman said. "Obviously an All-Star... He's looking really great for us."

Dillman entered to pitch in relief of Lovejoy in the top of the ninth inning, delivering a quality outing as well. He walked a pair of hitters and collected one strikeout in his seventh appearance with the team. That strikeout -- his ninth over 14.2 innings of work -- stranded men at first and second to end the frame.

Lovejoy matched Cole in a true-to form pitchers duel as he struck out seven on the night. The left-hander did not surrender a walk Saturday, giving up just four base hits.

However the eighth inning spelled doom for Walla Walla as two un-earned runs scored to give Bellingham a late lead. Shortstop John Skrbec fielded a ground ball of the bat of speedy center fielder Johnny Sewald but threw high to first base, forcing Mendenhall off the bag. Bells first baseman Eric Angerer was hit with a pitch in the next at-bat, and third baseman Alex Calbick followed with a line out to short stop. Skrbec threw to first with Angerer off the base, but the throw was wild, moving both runners into scoring position. Designated hitter Aaron Sandefur followed with a single up the middle to drive in two runs and give the Bells a 2-1 lead.

All-Star closer Marc Huberman came on in the bottom of the ninth and closed the door on Walla Walla, striking out two in his fifth save of the season.

The two eighth inning errors gave the Sweets three on the night, and Dillman believed the frame was a turning point for the club.

"You can't really single out one play, but that play at first, we could have gotten him for the double play," Dillman said. "It's unfortunate it didn't go our way."

Walla Walla will try to bounce back in the rubber game against Bellingham with left-handed All-Star Matt Hall on the mound for a 5:05 p.m. first pitch at Borleske Stadium.



West Coast League Stories from July 21, 2013


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