WALLA WALLA — The Lefties were one call away from a series sweep of the Walla Walla Sweets.
In the bottom of the ninth with one out, Walla Walla’s Easton O’Neal came up to the plate with the bases loaded and his team trailing 3-2 O’Neal slapped a fly ball to left fielder Jeremy Giesegh who grabbed it and made an excellent throw to catcher Jack Kleveno with a chance at a game-ending double play.
Kleveno appeared to successfully lay the tag down on Walla Walla’s Logan Meyer — who was attempting to score from third — but home plate umpire Terry Granillo disagreed and O’Neal was credited with a game-tying sacrifice fly.
The Sweets won the game three pitches later, as Kennedy Hara (Colorado Mesa) scored off a wild pitch to walk it off, giving the home side the 4-3 win at Borleske Stadium.
Port Angeles missed the opportunity at its first WCL sweep since June 16-18 of last season.
Yahir Ramirez (Texas A&M Corpus Christi) and Roberto Garza-Nunez (Embry-Riddle) both had multiple hits for the Lefties.
Julio Vasquez Jr. (Henderson State) also left the yard with an extreme show of muscle, clearing the fence and giving the Lefties what could have been the winning run if not for Walla Walla’s ninth-inning comeback.
Despite the loss, the Port Angeles pitching staff continues to impress. Jake Cumming (Nevada, Reno) had his first start of the season and tossed four innings. He was scoreless through three, only giving up two in the fourth.
The bullpen then went to Francisco Lopez (Yakima Valley College) who threw well in his season debut.
The Lefties found themselves in the ninth inning with a one-run lead. In trouble, bases loaded, the ball went to Jack Joyce (Mount Hood) who got the save in the Lefties’ series-clinching win the night prior. He pitched for two outs only to see the Sweets tie it up and walk it off on the wild pitch.
Port Angeles alumni John Vaara will start on the mound tonight as the Lefties (3-6) begin the first of a three-game set at defending league champion Corvallis.
Walla Walla 4, Port Angeles 3
Port Angeles 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 3 6 2
Walla Walla 0 0 0 0 3 2 0 0 0 — 4 6 2
WP: Clontz LP: Wike
Pitching
Port Angeles — Cumming 4 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 3 BB; Lopez 1.2 IP, H, 2 BB, 4 K; Wike 2.1 IP, 2 H, 2R; Joyce 0.2 IP.
Walla Walla — Hangas 4 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 K; Clontz 2 IP, BB, 2 K.
Hitting
Port Angeles — Vasquez 1-2, HR, R, RBI; Nunez 2-5; Giesegh 1-5, R; Leon 0-3, 2 BB, SB; Ramirez 2-4.
Walla Walla — Ruljancich 1-3, BB, RBI; Felix 1-2, 2 BB, R; Meyer 1-3, R, RBI.
