PORT ANGELES — A five-run fifth inning highlighted by an Isaiah Walz RBI double and Walz’ steal of home propelled Port Angeles to a 7-2 victory and a series win over Kamloops on Thursday at Civic Field.
Trailing 1-0, Chanz Doughty opened the big inning by beating out an infield single on a trickler that barely rolled past the pitchers’ mound.
Walz drove in Brock Mayer who reached via walk and the bases were loaded when Corey Jarell drew a free pass.
Kamloops pitcher Alexis Gravel walked in a run when Robert Nunez III, third in the West Coast League in batting average, came to bat for a 2-1 Lefties’ lead.
With the bases full, Lefties’ owner/manager, Matt Acker attempted some strategy — a suicide squeeze and Chase Taylor at the plate.
The pitch from reliever Griffin Almond went behind Taylor to the backstop and kicked off the wood behind the backstop toward the plate, but not in time to catch Walz on his successful steal of home.
A Taylor sacrifice fly and Owen Alsup RBI ground out closed out Port Angeles’ big scoring frame.
Port Angeles starter Jake Cumming fared well with his curveball in his five innings of work, allowing one run on two hits and four walks with eight strikeouts.
Two of his K’s came with Kamloops’ runners in scoring position and ended jams.
Lefties’ reliever Jamie Olson came out of the bullpen and walked the first two batters in the sixth. But Port Angeles High School grad Kole Acker came on and induced a 6-4-3 double play and a pop out to get out of the jam unscathed.
Acker only allowed one baserunner on a single to Tyler Glowacki in the seventh en route to his three scoreless innings.
Port Angeles (12-27) visits Kelowna for a three-game set this weekend. The Lefties return Tuesday for a series with the Edmonton Riverhawks.
