It was a nail-biter back-and-forth in a low-scoring matchup between the Wenatchee AppleSox and Bellingham Bells. Isaac Yeager got the start and showed out, striking out five batters over four innings and only allowing a run.
The Bells offense got off to another great start with Andrew Valdez scoring Dean West with a hard-hit ground ball that would ultimately be a sacrifice to get the Bells their first run of the game.
Will Anderson took over for Yeager on the mound for Bellingham. A Wenatchee player scored unearned after the runner stole 3rd base and arrived safely at home with ease after an overthrow was just out of the reach of Nate Kirkpatrick. After the fifth inning was over, the score was 2-1 AppleSox.
Evan Otte made his debut for the Bells and worked out of a busy inning without any damage to keep the score the same heading into the bottom of the sixth.
After a Ty Saunders walk to lead off the inning. The AppleSox pulled their starter after an effective five innings against a Bells offense that had been on fire leading up to this game.
Daryl Ruiz approached the plate in a one-out situation, down 2-1 to Wenatchee, and wasted little time rejuvenating the offense. Ruiz sent the first pitch he saw 96 MPH over the right field wall, scoring Saunders and putting the Bells ahead 3-2.
Eli Knowlton and Caleb Kassie each worked a scoreless inning in their debuts for the Bells.
Next up was Marques Brown, who worked a perfect 1-2-3 inning to get the save. The Bellingham Bells (33-16) were able to hold on against the Wenatchee AppleSox (35-15) with a final score of 3-2.
The Bells are looking to extend their seven-game winning streak and sweep the AppleSox on August 3 at 6:35 p.m.