It’s not the scenario that Carter Parcher has grown used to in his pitcher-only role throughout the course of this season, but he was effective when he had to take over for Andrew Valdez following the 3rd inning of a 0-0 Game 2 matchup against Wenatchee. Coming up huge in multiple opportunities throughout the night, finishing 2-3 with 3 stolen bases and 2 runs.
It is fair to say the Bells failed to make the most of a no-out, bases-loaded opportunity in the 2nd inning. A quick strikeout would put the easy RBI opportunity in jeopardy, but the Bells would be rewarded with a free run after a 1-2 pitch to Cole Williams got away from the Catcher, allowing for the first run of the game. Williams would keep things going with a sacrifice fly to center field; however, the throw to home was cut off by the First Baseman, who would catch Ty Saunders looking to advance to 3rd on the play. After a busy inning, the Bells had a 2-0 lead.
In the 4th inning, Carter Parcher would need to take the place of the Bells most effective offensive weapon all season, and he did not disappoint. Singling to left on the first pitch he saw this year Parcher didn’t want to waste what could be his only baserunning opportunity of the season, stealing 2nd as soon as he could to put himself in position to score on an RBI single from Ty Saunders. Extending the lead for the Bells to 3-0.
After a clean three innings of work from Isaac Yeager to start the game on the mound, the AppleSox were able to get to him on their second rotation through the lineup. Leading off the inning with two walks, he later allowed a run to score on a balk, which led everything to unravel from there. He was able to successfully get the batter at the plate for the second out of the inning, but Yeager had lost his command, allowing a double and a 3-0 count before being pulled for Thomas Urbina.
Urbina wasn’t able to come all the way back despite battling the count to full before allowing a walk to give Wenatchee another baserunner. Urbina would go on to allow back-to-back hits after the walk, giving the AppleSox a 5-run inning to put them in front.
Urbina was able to work a clean 5th inning and was relieved by Trevor Moore, who was able to successfully get the Bells through the 8th inning.
On the offensive side, the Bells were brought to life again by Carter Parcher, who, after getting his second hit of the game, was able to steal his second base of the season to put himself in scoring position to tie the game. Coleman Schmidt was able to score unearned on an error by the catcher. But Parcher wasn’t satisfied with only a 2-hit, 2-steal effort; he stole 3rd to help put the Bells in a position, with Daryl Ruiz right behind him on 2nd, for the Bells to take the lead late.
They would after a Dean West RBI single, which was followed up by a dropped 3rd strike to Ty Saunders, which was misplayed by Wenatchee. Giving the Bells a 6-5 lead.
More sloppy play behind the plate for the AppleSox gave an extra insurance run to the Bells. In the end, it wouldn’t matter; despite two errors in the bottom of the 9th inning, the Bells were able to come out on top, with the save going to Will Franklin against the red-hot Wenatchee AppleSox.
The Bells (27-16) are looking to take the series and potentially play spoiler to Wenatchee’s (32-12) 2nd half championship effort, on July 27 at 6:35 p.m.