PORT ANGELES — The Lefties finally snapped a frustrating losing streak Sunday and they did it in dramatic fashion, riding back-to-back home runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to beat the Walla Walla Sweets 4-3.
The victory broke a seven-game losing streak.
The Lefties went into the bottom of the eighth inning down 3-2, but Bryce Matthews and Carson Crawford hit back-to-back solo home runs to take the lead. Zach Thomas got three straight outs in the top of the ninth inning to preserve the win.
Javy Espinoza and Trevor Tishenkel each had a hit and an RBI for the Lefties. Crawford also had two walks and scored two runs. Nick Oakley went 2-for-4 with a run scored and Luke Saunders also had a double.
Connor Spear started the game and pitched well, going four innings and allowing two runs on five hits. He struck out five and was a bit wild with six walks. Newcomer Jonah Giblin pitched 2⅔ innings, allowing no hits and no walks while striking out three.
Saturday night game
Walla Walla 5, Port Angeles 2
PORT ANGELES — The Lefties gave Walla Walla an extra out in the first inning with an error, leading to a three-run home run, putting Port Angeles in a hole it couldn’t dig out of.
It’s the kind of mistake that has been the difference between winning and losing for the Lefties in their seven-game losing streak. Port Angeles went on to lose Saturday night 5-2, with Eli Paton’s home run the difference.
Other than the first-inning home run, the Lefties pitched well, tallying 10 strikeouts to one walk. Starter Luke Jewett recovered from the early bomb to go five innings, giving up seven hits, a walk and two earned runs. Zach Ediger pitched outstanding in relief, going four innings, allowing one hit and no walks while striking out six.
However, the Lefties could never muster much offense, striking out 15 times against three Sweets pitchers. Starter Calvin Kirchoff struck out 11 in 5⅔ innings, while closer Eric Romo struck out the side in the ninth inning to finish the game.
Carson Crawford went 2-for-3 at the plate with a double and a run scored. Javy Espinoza had an RBI on a sac fly and Nick Oakley had a hit, a walk and a run scored. Bryce Matthews also had a single.
The Lefties take today off, then host Ridgefield at 6:35 p.m. Tuesday at Civic Field.
Port Angeles 4, Walla Walla 3
WW 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 — 3 7 1
PA 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 X — 4 7 0
WP: Thomas. LP: Grimm.
Pitching
WW — Irwin 2 IP, 2 H, ER, 3 K; Ball 2.1 IP, H, ER, 2 BB; Craven 2.2 IP, 2 H, BB, 4 K; Grimm IP, 2 H, 2 ER, K.
PA — Spear 4 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 6 BB, 5 K; Giblin 2.2 IP, 2 H, 3 K; Sinclair 0.2 IP, ER, BB, K; Thomas 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 0 ER.
Hitting
WW — Myro 2-4; Delosier 2-2, 2B, R.
PA — Matthews 1-4, HR, R, RBI; Crawford 1-2, HR, 2 R, RBI; Saunders 1-2, 2B; Oakley 2-4, R; Espinoza 1-3, RBI; Tishenkel 1-4, RBI.
Walla Walla 5, Port Angeles 2
WW 3 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 — 5 8 1
PA 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 — 2 4 3
WP: Kirchoff. LP: Jewett.
Pitching
WW — Kirchoff 5.2 IP, 2 H, ER, 2 BB, 11K; Kaelber 2.1 IP, 2 H, K; Romo IP, BB, 3 K.
PA — Jewett 5 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, BB, 4 K; Ediger 4 IP, H, 6 K.
Hitting
WW — Paton 1-3, HR, R, 4 RBI; Price 2-4, R; Wetterau 2-4, R; Folz 0-3, R, RBI, SF, SB.
PA — Crawford 2-3, 2B, R; Oakley 1-2, R, BB; Matthews 1-2; Espinoza 0-3, RBI, SF.
