Box Score | Bellingham Bells Roster | WCL Standings

The Bellingham Bells evened the three-game series against the Wenatchee AppleSox with a 15-2 win Wednesday, June 25 at Joe Martin Field in Bellingham, Wash. The offense put up a season-high 15 runs on 15 hits to force a series rubber match at 6:35 p.m. tomorrow.

Devyn Hernadez pitched six no-hit inning in his first quality start of the season and earned his fourth win of the season. Hernandez only allowed a hit-by-pitch and a walk in his dominance of the AppleSox.

The offense started early with runs in the first two innings on RBIs by the UCLA Bruins Blake Balsz and Aiden Aguayo. The Bells chased the visiting starter out of the fourth inning and scored three more runs to go up 5-0.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, Rob Jacobsen delivered a two-RBI base hit and Nico Azpilcueta stepped up to the plate with two runners on. Azpilcueta, on his 22nd birthday, drove a ball over the right field fence for an opposite field three-run home run to give Bellingham a 10-0 lead.

Chihiro Sato entered in the seventh inning and immediately saw the no-hit bid end as he allowed a leadoff single. The Bells scored four more runs in the seventh, putting them up 14-0, thanks to two RBIs from Jacobsen and the AppleSox’ third error of the game to score two as well.

Sato surrendered the first run by Wenatchee in the eighth and the AppleSox added one more run on an error by Brock Sell. Jacobsen delivered his sixth RBI of the game in the eighth to plate the season-high 15th run. Sato finished the game with a 1-2-3 ninth, finishing three innings with two runs allowed on three hits and no walks for the right-handed pitcher.

Sell was 4-for-4 in the leadoff spot, legging out a couple of infield singles, and scored three runs with an RBI. Jacobsen’s six-RBI performance included two hits, one a double, and two runs scored with a walk. Azpilcueta’s three-run home run gave him three RBIs in his 1-for-4 birthday performance. Gavin Long was 2-for-2 with three walks, a double, two runs and an RBI.

The Bells (15-8) hold sole possession of first place in the North Division and have a 1.5-game lead over Wenatchee (12-8) and Edmonton (12-8) in the first half standings. The team with the best record in each division after 27 games secures an automatic playoff berth. Portland has already clinched the South and Bellingham has four games left in its first half.

Bellingham looks to take the series over Wenatchee tomorrow’s game that features a 6:35 p.m. first pitch. Ivan Rodriguez is starting for the Bells with Alec Ammerman starting for the AppleSox.

Tonight’s game recap is presented by Everstrong Physical Therapy and Performance.