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WCL Walla Walla Sweets

Kitsap Rallies, Beats Sweets 5-1

July 4, 2013 - West Coast League (WCL)
Walla Walla Sweets News Release


WALLA WALLA, WA -- Bret Helton struck out 10 hitters in his third start of the season, but the Kitsap BlueJackets never said die Wedensday night. A 10th-inning rally, capped by left fielder Justin Gheorghe's three-run home run, gave Kitsap a 5-1 win at Borleske Stadium.

Helton walked the first man he faced before a double play erased an early Kitsap threat in the first inning. After hitting a batter, Helton bounced back to strike out the next five consecutive BlueJackets, two of the strikeouts looking. He finished with just two walks in seven innings, surrendering five hits.

The BlueJackets scored first when center fielder Daniel Jewett doubled off the right field wall with one out in the third. Catcher Alex McKeon drove in his ninth run of the year with a single before Helton induced a fly out to end the frame. It was the only earned run surrendered all night by the right-hander, and just his second in four appearances.

Shortstop Nick Vilter responded in the home half of the third with a bunt base hit to start the Sweets offense. Left fielder Kramer Lindell sent him to third base with a single to right field, and Vilter came home to score on a wild pitch, tying the game at 1-1.

The game remained a tie contest for the next six innings. Walla Walla's best chance to put it away came in the bottom of the ninth with pinch runner Beau Bozett at second base to run for pinch hitter Jarod Gonzales, who walked with two outs. Lindell walked to advance the winning run into scoring position, but third baseman John Skrbec struck out swinging to send the game to extras.

left-hander Chris Lovejoy pitched two solid innings of relief, striking out the side in the eighth, with two looking strikeouts and another on three pitches. With men at second and third in the ninth and only one out, he worked out of the jam with his fourth strikeout and a fly ball to right field to end the inning.

With reliever Danny Zandona on to start the tenth, Kitsap shortstop Danny Sheehan led off with a double to the right field wall. A ground out moved him to third base as manager J.C. Biagi called on left-hander Joe Arlt out of the bullpen. First baseman Daniel Orr hit the second pitch he saw to right field for the go-ahead RBI, giving the BlueJackets a 2-1 lead. A pinch hit single by Francisco Torres brought Gheorghe to the plate, who drove in three runs with his first home run of the season, expanding the Kitsap lead to 5-1.

Walla Walla put two runners on with two out in the bottom of the frame, but catcher Dom Miroglio grounded back to pitcher Brandon Luper to end the game. Luper earned the win for his first victory this season with two innings out of the bullpen.

Zandona took his second loss of the year as the Sweets maintain a tie for first place in the WCL-North division at 16-10. The Victoria HarbourCats share that first place position with an 11-8 record.

The Sweets will come back for the rubber game Thursday afternoon. Right-hander Jonathan Harris will make the July 4th start with a 3:05 p.m. first pitch.

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