Bells Win Game One in Pitcher's Duel
Published on August 13, 2014 under West Coast League (WCL)
Yakima Valley Pippins News Release
YAKIMA, Wash. - When the top two ERAs in the West Coast League clash, a pitcher's duel is bound to ensue, as it did Tuesday night in a 4-1 win for the Bellingham Bells over the Yakima Valley Pippins to begin the 2014 West Coast League playoffs.
After a low-scoring series in late July, Yakima Valley starter Andrew Woods and Bellingham starter Eder Erives kept the opposing offenses off the board, working three scoreless innings to begin the ballgame. In the top of the 4 ththough, Dallas Carroll got the Bells on the board with a solo home run to right field that gave the Bells a 1-0 advantage.
With Erives continuing to keep the Pippins bats in check, allowing just one hit through the first six innings, the Bells added another run in the top of the 6 th against Woods on an RBI single from Danny Miller to make it 2-0 Bellingham.
In the bottom of the 7 th, the Pippins (35-20 overall, 0-1 playoffs) finally strung together a threat against Erives and the Bells (38-17, 1-0). Reid Martinez and Vince Fernandez began the inning with singles and then were sacrificed forward by Ryan Rosa. Ryan Yamane drove in the lone run on a groundout, but with the tying run at 3 rd, the Pippins could not score him, as reliever Dan Ludwig struck out Alex Guenette.
With Woods out of the ballgame after 7 innings, relievers Connor Lau and Gabe Gentner each allowed an earned run in their one inning of work, respectively, as the Bells built a 4-1 lead, which Ludwig would hold over the final 2 2/3 innings to send Bellingham home with a win.
The series now shifts to Bellingham, where the Pippins will play their first true must-win game of the season Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m. Yakima Valley, which finished 18-9 on the road in the regular season, must win Wednesday and Thursday at Joe Martin Field in Bellingham to advance to the West Coast League championship series.
West Coast League Stories from August 13, 2014
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- Bells Win Game One in Pitcher's Duel - Yakima Valley Pippins
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