PORT ANGELES — Jake Cumming’s excellent relief outing was all for nought in the Lefties’ 4-2 extra-innings loss to the Kelowna Falcons on Thursday, the rubber match of a three-game series which saw Port Angeles drop two extra-inning contests.
Cumming entered extra innings already having thrown 5⅔ of an inning, striking out nine, while walking two and allowing just one hit with the Lefties and Falcons knotted at 2-all.
An errant throw from shortstop Jett Nelson drew Eric Valdivia off first base and allowed Kelowna to get the leadoff runner aboard in the 10th. Cumming allowed a follow-up single and his evening ended.
Matt Capel then made his summer debut for Port Angeles, getting a strikeout against his first batter and receiving the benefit on an excellent defensive play by third baseman Tyler Schulman to charge a high hopper, field the ball with one hand and make an accurate throw to first for the second out.
Capel was agonizingly close to a third out against Matthieu Morin, getting out to an 0-2 lead, before Morin worked himself back into a full count and came through with a bloop single into right-center field to score the eventual winning runs.
Port Angeles tied the game at 2-all in the bottom of the seventh, getting an RBI groundout from Tommy Markey and a sacrifice fly from Nelson.
The Lefties put runners on the corners with two outs when Dom Dominguez was hit by a pitch moved into scoring position after a Kelowna balk and to third when pinch hitter Jack Edmunds beat out an infield single.
Valdivia worked the count to 3-2, but couldn’t get the crucial hit and struck out on a check swing.
Port Angeles (3-12) visits Nanaimo for a weekend series today and Sunday.
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Sports reporter/columnist Michael Carman can be contacted at sports@peninsuladailynews.com.
KEITH THORPE/PENINSULA DAILY NEWS Leftiies first baseman Eric Daldivia, left, tries to catch Kelowna’s Kyle Slater off the bag on Thursday evening at Port Angeles Civic Field.
KEITH THORPE/PENINSULA DAILY NEWS Leftiies’ Don Dominguez bats in the second inning as Kelowna catcher Caden Mitchell receives the delivery on Thursday in Port Angeles.
