Box Score

BELLINGHAM — Saturday’s game began as a pitcher’s duel, but Portland scored four runs in the seventh and two in the eighth to beat Bellingham 6-0 on June 13 at Joe Martin Field. Bellingham was held to four hits and will look to take the series over the Pickles in tomorrow’s 1:35 p.m. game.

Brody Olmsted was strong through a five-inning start. He only allowed two hits and a walk and kept Portland scoreless. Portland’s starter Rafael Espinoza matched Olmsted with five shutout frames and the game was even as both squads entered their bullpens.

Braden Blackwell pitched a scoreless sixth inning, but in the seventh allowed two hits and a walk and Portland scored its first two runs. Joel Votipka made his debut and walked two batters before hitting a batter that added to the Pickle’s lead. He surrendered a single for the fourth run in the inning and Silas Stenerson had to finish the inning as the third arm to pitch for the Bells in the seventh inning.

Portland tagged Stenerson for two runs in the eighth and Kenneth Johnson finished out the game with 1-2/3 perfect innings that featured three strikeouts. Bellingham’s offense hit into a double play in all of the final three innings and fell to 8-6.

The Bells four hits came from: Jake Lyall, Bryce Johnson, Noah Cassie and Tristan Schaefer. Bellingham looks to claim the series in the rubber game tomorrow at Joe Martin Field.

Get your tickets at bellstickets.com or watch from home on the Bellingham Bells YouTube channel.