WCL Walla Walla Sweets

Provencher's Complete Game Gives Cats Opening Win

Published on August 3, 2013 under West Coast League (WCL)
Walla Walla Sweets News Release


WALLA WALLA, WA -- Sweets starting pitcher Cody Poteet tossed another stellar seven innings Friday night, this time against the Victoria HarbourCats (20-25), but took the loss, as Walla Walla (23-22) fell 3-1 at Borleske Stadium. The right-hander struck out five, allowing just one earned run in his second loss of the year.

Walla Walla's offense mustered five base hits on the evening, and the bulk of that came from UC-Irvine teammates Kris Paulino and Renae Martinez. The Sweets struck first with a run in the second inning thanks to Paulino's two-out double to the center field wall, allowing Martinez to dig in and single home the club's lone run of the game. Having a man like Paulino ahead of him in the lineup is something that gives Martinez a great deal of confidence.

"I love having [Kris] in front of me," Martinez said. "It's really comfortable, knowing that he's going to get on base most of the time. He's a really good ball player."

Paulino notched a pair of hits Friday night, reaching a third time on an error in left field to make for an exciting ninth inning. After back-to-back strikeouts, the Sweets left fielder popped up a first-pitch fastball behind shortstop, but confusion between Alex DeGoti and left fielder Brett Urabe saw the baseball drop to the grass, just off the end of Urabe's glove, putting Paulino at first base. First baseman Matt Mendenhall, who was hit by a pitch to start the inning, moved to third base on the miscue before Martinez stepped in. He hit the ball hard, but directly at Brandon Smith in center field to end the game.

"I was thinking about that at-bat the whole ninth inning," Martinez said. "I thought I squared the ball up pretty well, it just didn't go my way."

"I was seeing the ball well, so I can't complain. The 'baseball gods' weren't with me today."

Victoria starter Ty Provencher cruised through the next 12 consecutive batters after surrendering that base hit to Martinez in the second inning, keeping the Sweets off the bases until center fielder Mike Paulson's infield single in the sixth. Provencher, who leads the West Coast League in total strikeouts, collected nine of them en route to his fifth victory and second complete game of the year. The right-hander also tossed nine complete frames in the Cats' 13-inning victory over the Cowlitz Black Bears on July 1st, but earned the no-decision.

The seven-inning effort from Poteet was the third since the right-hander's Walla Walla debut on July 5th. He worked out of a first-inning jam when DeGoti, hitting out of the lead-off spot, reached on an error at second base. However he found himself stranded at third base to end the threat, but Poteet again ran into trouble two innings later.

Catcher David Schuknecht singled on the infield to start the frame, and a sacrifice bunt later moved him into scoring position. A ground out sent him to third base as an error at third brought him in to tie the game. In the fourth, David's younger brother John lifted a solo home run to left field to give Victoria a lead it would not surrender.

Left-handed reliever Joe Arlt, on in place of Poteet, could not retire a man in the eighth inning, and after back-to-back singles, Jonathan Harris took over. The right-hander retired the three hitters he faced, but not unscathed as first baseman Alex Real, who leads his club in RBI, chopped the first pitch he saw over the mound to bring in an insurance run and close the scoring at 3-1.

The loss moves the Sweets into third place in the WCL North division, with the Wenatchee AppleSox taking over the top spot on their day off. With the Bellingham Bells winning Friday night, they move into second, just 1/2 a game out of first.

Game two between the Sweets and HarbourCats is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. with left hander Sean Silva (4-0) taking the mound at Borleske Stadium.

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West Coast League Stories from August 3, 2013


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