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The Bellingham Bells defeated the Port Angeles Lefties 4-2 on Taylor Swift Night, Friday, July 19, at Joe Martin Field in Bellingham, Wash. Three was the magic number as Gavin Long’s two RBI triple in the third inning gave the Bells a 3-1 lead and Long’s RBIs would go down as the winning runs.

The game started with Nathan Van Beek on the bump getting his second start of the season. The 6-7 left-handed pitcher would go three innings and allow one earned run when the West Coast League’s batting average leader entering today, Jeremy Giesegh, led off the third inning with a double and scored on a single by Eric Valdivia.

The Bells scored early by putting up their first run in the first inning after Mallonee reached on an error to lead off the game. Kirkpatrick would score Mallonee thanks to his first of two singles tonight. After Van Beek allowed the run in the third inning it was tied 1-1. 

The tie would not last as in the bottom of the third, Long sent Roman Martin and Kirkpatrick home to give the Bells an early two-run lead. Devyn Hernandez would enter the fourth inning after Van Beek loaded the bases without recording an out. Hernandez made his fellow California State University, San Bernardino Coyote, Giesegh, hit into a double play. Hernandez then created a Yahir Ramirez groundout to escape a threatening fourth inning. 

Hernandez earned his second win of the season in three relief innings of scoreless baseball. He allowed just one hit and two walks to the lefties. Nick Lewis was the next arm out of the Bells bullpen. Lewis took over with a 4-1 lead after the Bells put up one run in the bottom of the sixth inning thanks to Martin’s sacrifice fly that scored Jason Shedlock.

Lewis pitched a clean seventh and eighth to grab a hold and set things up for the closer Ryan Heppner. Heppner entered the ninth and allowed one run to score via a triple and a groundout. Heppner struck the final batter out looking to earn his third save of the season.

Gavin Long led the way on offense with a 2 for 4 night including his go-ahead two RBI triple in the third. Jacob Mejia had two hits and one walk. Nate Kirkpatrick had a 2 for 4 night including an RBI. Trent Mallonee, Logan Degroot and Jason Shedlock all had a single hit with Mallonee and Shedlock both scoring runs tonight. Roman Martin also scored a run after he was hit by a pitch and drove in one run on a sacrifice fly.

The Bellingham Bells improved to 23-14 overall with a 6-4 record in the second half of the season. The Bells currently hold sole possession of the best seed in the North Division’s second half. The winner of the second half will receive an automatic playoff berth and the number two seed in the WCL playoffs come mid-August.

Tomorrow night the Bells look to earn a series win as they play the Lefties at 6:35 p.m. Saturday night’s giveaway is a 25th Anniversary Jersey presented by Peace Health to the first 900 fans that enter Joe Martin Field tomorrow night. Tickets are available on bellstickets.com for Saturday and Sunday’s game against the Lefties.

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