GRESHAM, Ore. — Jordan Ackerman’s solo home run to leadoff the top of the 11th inning stood up and Port Angeles triumphed over the Gresham GreyWolves 9-8.
The extra-inning victory snapped an eight-game West Coast League losing streak for the Lefties (7-16, 17-33).
Port Angeles started slow in weather that reached 94 degrees at nearby Portland International Airport at first pitch.
The Lefties trailed 3-0 after three innings before exploding for a five-run top of the fourth highlighted by a two-run home run by Nick Bellafronto, the first of the summer for the Stanford infielder.
With two outs, Aki Buckson singled home Thomas Martin who had reached on a base hit.
All five Port Angeles runs in the fourth were charged to Gresham starter Zak Baayoun. Baayoun left the game having recorded no outs in the inning.
Gresham turned the tables on the Lefties in their half of the inning, knocking Port Angeles starter Jacob Battaglia from the contest after he walked a run in with the bases loaded and allowed an RBI single to Jake Palmer to tie the game at 5-all.
Port Angeles regained the lead when catcher Benny Kaleiwahea walked, moved to second on a single by Mitchell Hagan, and scored on a wild pitch. Hagan then scored on a Martin sacrifice fly.
Gresham again tied the game in the seventh when the GreyWolves Drew Curtis led off the bottom half of the inning with a home run off newly inserted Lefties’ reliever Ben Tinnel.
The lead swapped hands once again in the top of the eighth.
Martin singled, Trace Eldredge reached on a fielders’ choice and moved to second on a walk by Ackerman. Eldredge stole third base and came home on a Brian Hill RBI single to left field for an 8-7 Lefties lead.
Gresham tied it at 8-all when Michael Peabody opened the bottom of the eighth with a triple off Tinel and scored on a sacrifice fly.
Tinel allowed a one-out double to the next GreyWolves batter, Jake Palmer, but settled down to get out of danger by recording a flyout and a strikeout.
Tinel struck out seven and walked none in five innings of relief work to earn the win for the Lefties.
Port Angeles played Gresham late Thursday and wraps the three-game series against the GreyWolves tonight.
The Lefties will then return home and wrap their inaugural season with a two-game series with Victoria. Port Angeles plans a “big announcement” for Saturday’s game at 6:35 p.m.
And Sunday’s season-ending game is Fan Appreciation Day with a special 1 p.m. start.
Port Angeles 9, Gresham 8, 11 innings
Lefties 0 0 0 5 2 0 0 1 0 0 1 — 9 11 0
G-Wolves 1 2 0 2 0 1 1 1 0 0 0— 8 12 2
WP: Tinnel LP: Weindell
Pitching
Lefties — Battaglia 3.1 IP, 5H, 5ER, 4BB, 3K; Smith 2.2 IP, 2H, ER, 5K; Tinnel 5 IP, 5H, 2ER, 7K.
GreyWolves — Baayoun 3 IP, 5H, 5ER, 3BB, 3K; Danzeisen 3 IP, 3H, 2ER, 2BB; Weindell 5 IP, 3H, 2ER, BB, 3K.
Hitting
Lefties — Ackerman 2-4, BB, HR, R, RBI; Hagan 2-5, 2R; Martin 2-4, R, RBI; Eldredge 2-4, R, BB; Bellafronto 1-5, R, HR, 2RBI
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Sports reporter/columnist Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-417-3525 or at mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
