YAKIMA — A delayed start due to triple-digit temperatures did nothing to cool red-hot Port Angeles’ bats in an 8-2 win over the Yakima Pippins on Tuesday night at Yakima County Stadium.
While the effort to play in more hospitable conditions with a 7:55 p.m. start time wasn’t a big success considering the 108 degree temperature, the Lefties were ready from the outset.
Port Angeles took advantage of four fielding errors in the first inning to score six runs in the team’s first at bats.
Leadoff hitter Luke Saunders reached on an error, stole second, advanced to third on a ground out and came home on a passed ball for a 1-0 lead.
A Trevor Tishenkel RBI single brought home Coleman Schmidt, who had reached base via an error, for a 2-0 lead.
Zach Thomas reached base on the third error of the inning, which also scored a run.
Catcher Jack Holman had the biggest swing of the inning, a two-run double to the wall in left-center field for a 5-0 lead.
Holman later came home to score when a Nick Oakley grounder trickled through the legs of the Pippins’ second baseman for a 6-0 lead.
Port Angeles starter Justin Miller was pulled after walking three and allowing a run in 1 1/3 innings pitched.
Incoming Cal-Poly San Luis Obispo freshman Steven Brooks stepped in and came up clutch for the Lefties, earning the win after 5 2/3 innings of nearly stellar relief pitching.
“He’s been solid all year,” Port Angeles pitching coach Scott Kelly said of Brooks. “We knew were were going to go to him, and he would throw strikes. We didn’t really want to extend him that much, but when your starter gets in a little bit of trouble and then the guy gets cruising, we kind of just let them go, especially in these conditions.”
In West Coast League play, Brooks has a 1.32 earned run average in 13 2/3 innings pitched with 13 strikeouts and three walks.
“For a young guy, he came in and threw strikes and competed on every pitch,” Kelly said. “He’s so composed for a high school kid it’s impressive to watch, and he’s earned himself these innings and a start here and there.
“What Brooks did tonight will really save our bullpen for [the rest of the series].”
Port Angeles (5-8) is at Yakima (10-6) for the final game of a three-game set tonight before heading up to Bellingham for a July 2-4 series with the Bells.
Port Angeles 8, Yakima 2
PA 6 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 — 8 12 6
YAK 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 — 2 6 5
WP: Brooks. LP: Kuykendall.
Pitching
PA: Miller 1.1 IP, ER, 3 BB, K; Brooks 5.2 IP, 4 H, ER, 5 K; Uemoto 2 IP, 2 H.
YAK: Kuykendall 5 IP, 10 H, 8 R, 2 ER, 3K; Janavs 3 IP, H, 3 BB, 3 K; Cammarata IP, H, K.
Hitting
PA: Schmidt 3-4, 2 R, BB, 2 B; Thomas 2-5, R, 2 B, RBI; Holman 2-4, R, 2 B, 2 RBI; Oakley 2-5, RBI; Tishenkel 2-4, 2 R, BB, RBI.
YAK: Williamson 1-4, 2 R, HR, RBI; Myers 1-4, Graves 1-4.
