Bellingham earns 10th straight win with sweep of Lefties

BELLINGHAM — Another series, another sweep for the Bells. Bellingham beat Port Angeles 8-3 to win its 10th straight game and the Bells have swept their last three series. A seven-run sixth inning lifted Bellingham over Port Angeles and the Bells are 18-6, which is tied with Wenatchee for the top record in the West Coast League’s North Division.

Mason Goodson tossed two scoreless innings in his start, but David Wiser surrendered the first two runs of the game in the third inning. Port Angeles scored after Wiser issued two walks and hit a batter to load the bases. A sacrifice fly scored the first run and an error gave the Lefties a 2-0 lead.

Wiser had a scoreless fourth inning and Zach Elsos pitched the fifth and sixth innings in relief. Bellingham scored its first run of the game in the fifth inning on a sacrifice fly by Brandon Leon.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, Noah Cassie doubled to begin the frame. Nate Johnson singled to score Cassie, which tied the game. Aspen Alexander hit a grounder that resulted in an error and Johnson scored as the go-ahead run.

With two outs in the sixth, KG Hattori doubled and scored Alexander. Jaden Jackson scored Hattori on a single and Leon was hit by a pitch. Jake Lyall scored both runners on a single and a Cassie single scored Lyall to finish a seven-run inning.

The Bells, now leading 8-2, gave Aidan Colin the ball for the seventh inning and he retired the Lefties in order. Colin began the eighth, but Gavin Hasche had to gather the final two outs. Port Angeles scored one run in the eighth and had the bases loaded, but an inning-ending double play kept the score 8-3.

Hasche finished the ninth inning to cap off the win, which earned Elsos his third win of the season. Hattori led Bellingham with a 2-for-4 night that included a double, RBI and run scored. Cassie was the only other Bells with multiple hits with a single and a double.

The pitching staff only allowed one hit, but surrendered three runs on seven walks and three defensive errors. Only one of the runs were earned.

Bellingham now enters a weekend series against the Victoria HarbourCats needing to win at least one more game than the Wenatchee AppleSox, who play the Walla Walla Sweets. The Bells can clinch a playoff spot by winning the North Division first half title if they win more games this weekend than Wenatchee.

Bellingham is next at home on July 7. Get your tickets at bellstickets.com.