PORT ANGELES — The Lefties got a three-run home run from West Coast League All-Star Matt Christian in the first inning and another homer from Sequim product Evan Hurn to hold off the Kelowna Falcons 8-6 on Sunday.
The win, which saw a total of six home runs by both teams, evens the Lefties’ record at 6-6 entering the All-Star break.
Christian is putting up monster numbers this season. He went 3 for 4 in Sunday’s game and has now crushed nine home runs this season in only 85 at-bats for a staggering slugging percentage of .718, which would be the highest in the WCL if he had enough at-bats to qualify. His OPS is also 1.098.
Christian had two doubles Sunday, giving him 18 extra-base hits out of his 24 total hits. With four RBIs on Sunday, Christian increased his tally to 24, among the WCL league leaders despite his relatively few at-bats.
In addition to the All-Star Game in Bend, Ore., Christian is also participating in the WCL Home Run Derby.
Alexander Marco also hit a home run. Hurn and Marco each had two RBIs.
Gavin Rork was 3 for 5 with two runs scored. He also stole two bases.
The Lefties looked like they were going to cruise as they built up a 7-2 lead, but Kelowna rallied to make it 7-6 after seven innings. The Lefties overcame three Kelowna home runs, including two by the Falcons’ James Shimashita.
A Christian RBI double in the bottom of the eighth gave the Lefties an insurance run and Carter Loewen pitched great in relief to keep the Falcons at bay.
Dwayne Angebrandt picked up the win for the Lefties, going six innings and giving up four runs. He struck out six and walked none. Lowen pitched the final two innings, giving up one hit and one walk while allowing no runs scored. He struck out two.
Port Angeles 8, Kelowna 6
Falcons 1 1 0 1 0 1 2 0 0 — 6 9 0
Lefties 4 0 3 0 0 0 0 1 x — 8 11 0
WP: Angebrandt LP: Woods SV: Loewen
Pitching
Falcons — Woods 3IP, 7H, 7ER, 3BB, 2K; Turner 3IP, 2H, 2BB, K; Grote 2IP, 2H, ER, BB.
Lefties — Angebrandt 6IP, 6H, 4ER, 0BB, 6K; A. Chavez 1IP, 2H, 2ER, BB, K; Loewen 2IP, H, 0ER, BB, 2K.
Hitting
Falcons — Shimashita 2-4, 2HR, 2R, 2RBI; Sede 1-3, HR, R, RBI; Guarin 2-4, 2B, RBI; Cummings 2-4, 2B, R; Hupe 1-4, 2B, R.
Lefties — Christian 3-4, HR, 2 2B, R, 4RBI; Rork 3-5, 2R, 2SB; Hurn 1-3, HR, R, RBI; Marco 1-3, HR, R, 2RBI.
Saturday’s game Kelowna 7, Port Angeles 5
The Lefties lost a see-saw affair Saturday 7-5 when the Kelowna Falcons were able to score two runs in the seventh inning and then shut down the Lefties batters over the final three innings.
Christian hit his eighth home run in Saturday’s game. Alex Garcia also hit a home run, while Ethan Groff stole two bases to give him 11 steals on the year. Groff also scored two runs.
Connor Denning had a base hit and an RBI for the Lefties.
On the mound, Nathan Bonck started, going 4 2/3rds innings and giving up four earned runs on four hits and four walks. He also struck out four. Michael Buchanan took the loss, giving up two earned runs in 1 2/3rds innings of work. Zach Tresemer allowed no runs in 2 2/3rds innings.
Matt Voelzke picked up the win for Kelowna, going 3 1/3 innings to finish the game, giving up no hits and walking just one Leftie.
The Lefties (6-6 second half, 16-22 overall) take a three-day break for the All-Star Break. In addition to Christian, Lefties’ pitcher A.C. Chavez has been selected to the All-Star squad.
Kelowna 7, Port Angeles 5
Falcons 1 1 0 0 3 0 2 0 0 — 7 10 5
Lefties 0 1 2 0 0 2 0 0 0 — 5 5 1
WP: Voelzke LP: Buchanan
Pitching
Falcons — Baldocchi 4IP, 5H, 3ER, 4K; Nygard 1.2IP, 2R, 2BB, 4K; Voelzke 3.1IP, BB, 4K.
Lefties — Bonck 4.2IP, 4H, 4ER, 4BB, 4K; Buchanan 1.2IP, 2H, 2ER, K; Tresemer 2.2IP, 4H, BB, K.
Hitting
Falcons — Grissom 2-3, 2B, 2R; Cummings 2-3, 3RBI, SB; Tressen 1-3, 2R, BB; Guarin 1-3, RBI, BB; Butler 1-4, 2B, 2R; Norton 1-4, R, SB.
Lefties — Christian 1-3, HR, R, RBI, BB, SB; Garcia 1-3, HR, R, RBI; Groff 1-4, 2R, 2SB; Denning 1-3, 2B, RBI, BB; Fugitt 1-3, 2B; Schauwecker 0-0, BB, 2SB.
