Bellingham pitchers toss eight hitless frames in 5-2 win

BELLINGHAM — The Bells pitching staff neared perfection in a 5-2 win over the Port Angeles Lefties on Sunday, July 12 at Joe Martin Field. Bellingham allowed two hits in the first inning, but the Lefties didn’t record a hit in the final eight innings and the staff didn’t allow a walk.

The pitching masterclass could’ve been even better. Starter Caleb Sebek struck out his first batter, but gave up a hit to the second Port Angeles batter. Bellingham had a chance to turn an inning-ending double play, but an error led to no outs gained and two men were on for the Lefties.

Port Angeles got their first run with a hit by their next batter and then a sacrifice fly made it 2-0. Without the error, Sebek wouldn’t have surrendered a run and there could’ve only been one hit against him. Sebek pitched the second and third innings perfectly.

Robby Zimmerman continued the dominance as he only allowed a hit-by-pitch in three relief innings while striking out three Port Angeles batters. Bellingham took the lead with a three-run fifth inning that led to Zimmerman earning his third win of the season.

Bryce Johnson, Tyler Peshke and Rominic Quiban loaded the bases to begin the fifth and a double from Jaden Jackson scored Johnson and Peshke. Aspen Alexander gave Bellingham the lead on a sacrifice fly that scored Quiban.

Rashad Hayes added to the lead with an RBI single that scored Jake Lyall. Rohan Kasanagottu twirled two perfect innings in the seventh and eighth while striking out three. Bellingham added one more run on an RBI double from Hayes that once again scored Lyall.

Thrasher Steed picked up his second save of the season despite hitting the first batter he faced in the ninth. Steed had one strikeout to tally the eighth strikeout by the pitching staff. Port Angeles didn’t have a hit in the final eight innings and the whole staff didn’t allow a walk.

Lyall led the Bells with three hits and scored twice. Johnson and Hayes had two hits each with Hayes driving in two runs. Jackson had two RBI with his double and Quiban had the Bells only other knock.

The Bells earned a series win to improve to 22-14, which sits Bellingham at third in the West Coast League’s North Division. The Community Champions Game is tomorrow with the Bells back in action Tuesday, July 14 for a non-league matchup against the Cascade Collegiate League.