GRESHAM, Ore. — The Lefties managed to get one game completed in severely smoky conditions in Gresham, erupting for four runs in the sixth and seventh innings to beat the GreyWolves 9-4.
A Thursday game against the GreyWolves was canceled due to smoke. Friday was supposed to be a doubleheader, but the Lefties and GreyWolves were only able to get in one game because the smoke was too thick to allow play under the lights. The game ended after seven innings.
Mitchell Hagan had the big blow for the Lefties, hitting a three-run home run that helped spark their eight-run rally. Brandon Maasen gave up four earned runs in 5 2/3 innings, on six hits, two walks and six strikeouts, picking up the win. Ryan Eddy also pitched a good game, closing with 1 1/3 innings of perfect relief, giving up no hits, no walks and striking out one.
Maasen actually pitched great for five innings and the Lefties and Wolves were locked in a 1-1 tie going into the sixth.
The Lefties took at 5-1 lead in the sixth. They scored their first run of the inning without a hit thanks to wildness from Wolves’ pitcher Jeremy Polon. Brian Hill walked and moved to second when Aki Buckson was hit by a pitch. He was able to move to third on a fly ball by Michael Ciancio, then came in to score on a wild pitch.
Polon then walked the Lefties’ Nick Bellafronto and all those baserunners came back to bite the Wolves when Hagan belted a three-run home run.
The Lefties’ big lead didn’t last long as the Wolves came back with three runs in the bottom of the sixth to make it 5-4.
Port Angeles was able to stretch out a big lead again with another big inning in the seventh, however.
Again, Hill and Buckson were in the middle of the action, agian without the benefit of a hit. Hill was hit by a pitch to start the rally and Buckson walked. Then, when they pulled off a double steal, the Wolves threw the ball away, allowing both baserunners to score to make it 7-4.
Ciancio was hit by a pitch and Branden Williams hit a double to put runners back at second and third. A Nick Bellefronto double scored two more runs for the final margin of 9-4. Eddy completely shut down the Wolves in the seventh to stifle any thoughts of a comeback.
Hill ended the game 2-2 with three runs scored, a walk and a hit-by-pitch. Bellefronto ended with two RBIs and Hagan three RBIs.
The Lefties (18-33 overall, 8-16 second half, played Saturday in their final homestand against Victoria (results were after press deadline). The Lefties will finish their season at 1 p.m. today against Victoria at Civic Field. Today will be fan appreciation day with a variety of promotions.
Port Angeles 9, Gresham 4
Lefties 1 0 0 0 0 4 4 — 9 7 0
Wolves 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 — 4 6 2
WP: Maasen LP: Polon
Pitching
Lefties — Maasen 5.1IP, 6H, 4ER, 2BB, 6K; Eddy 1.1IP, 0H, 0ER, 0BB, K.
Wolves — Reaser 2IP, 2H, ER, BB, 2K; Brown 2IP, H, K; Bonner 1IP, H, 4ER, 2BB, K; Ward 0.2IP, H, 3ER, BB; Mets 0.1IP, 2H, ER, K.
Hitting
Lefties — Hill 2-2, 3R, BB, SB, HPB; Hagan 1-4, HR, R, 3RBI; Bellafronto 1-2, 2B, R, 2RBI, 2BB, Buckson 1-2, 2R, BB, 2SB, HBP; Williams 1-4, 2B, R.
Wolves — De Watteville 2-4, HR, R, RBI; Curtis 1-3, R; Thoreson 1-1, 2B, R, RBI; Weaver 1-2, 2B.
