PORTLAND — The Lefties lost their first game of the year, falling 6-1 on the road to the Portland Pickles.
Ironically, the Lefties had come back from 6-1 deficits in both of their preseason wins over Victoria. In Saturday’s game, however, Portland’s pitchers slammed the door shut, allowing the Lefties only five singles while striking out 13 batters.
Meanwhile, the Pickles’ Gio Diaz was a problem for the Lefties. He went 3 for 3 with two doubles and three RBIs. Joey Cooper hit a solo home run and a double for the Pickles as Portland hitters combined for six extra-base hits.
Evan Pace led the Lefties at the plate, going 2 for 3 with a walk and an RBI. Dalton Harum, David Langer and Trevor Rosenberg also had hits for the Lefties, while Austin Earl scored Port Angeles’ only run.
The Lefties did have a shot in the seventh inning, as they loaded the bases with no outs after three straight walks, but they were only able to bring in a lone run on a single by Pace.
Nick Parr and Justin Dolezal pitched well in relief for the Lefties, going the final two innings, striking out two and giving up no runs on two hits and two walks. Tyler Tan pitched the first 3 2/3 innings, giving up two earned runs and taking the loss.
Port Angeles (1-1 in league play) and Portland played Sunday evening after press deadline. The Lefties next travel south to Bend to play the Elks at 6:35 p.m. Monday.
Portland 6, Port Angeles 1
PA 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 — 1 5 2
Portland 2 0 0 1 1 2 0 0 x — 6 10 0
WP: Pellerin LP: Tan
Pitching
Port Angeles — Tan 3.2IP, 4H, 2ER, BB, K; Sutorius 2.1IP, 4H, 3ER, 3BB, K; Parr 1IP, H, 2K; Delezal 1IP, H, 2BB, K.
Portland — Beller 4IP, 3H, 2BB, 5K; Pellerin, 2IP, H, ER, 4BB, 5K; Espinosa 2IP H, 2K; Wyatt 1IP, 2BB, K.
Hitting
Port Angeles — Pace 2-3, RBI, BB; Langer 1-1, BB; Rosenberg 1-4; Harum 1-4; Earl 0-2, R, BB.
Portland — Diaz 3-3, 2 2B, 3RBI, BB; Cooper 2-4, HR, 2B, R, RBI; Murphy 1-2, 2B, 2RBI, McKinney 1-4, 2B, 3R, BB.
