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The Bellingham Bells beat the Kelowna Falcons 1-0 on Tuesday, July 23, at Joe Martin Field in Bellingham, Wash. Five pitchers threw in the league leading eighth shutout of the season for the Bells.

The game started with Peter Storjohann who was making his third start of the season after transitioning from the bullpen. Storjohann went four innings and had a season high six strikeouts. The right-handed pitcher threw four no-hit innings with three walks allowed.

During the start of the game the Bells left runners on base in the second, third, fourth and fifth innings. 12 total runners were left on base for the Bells tonight with nine of those runners being in scoring position.

Despite the slow start to offense, the pitching continued to put up zeros with Sax Matson entering for a one strikeout and hitless fifth inning. Will Goldberg came into the sixth and struck out the side. Goldberg matched his season total of strikeouts with three in just that one inning. Goldberg now has six strikeouts in 4.2 innings.

Nick Lewis came in for the seventh inning and gave up the first hit of the game. Up to that point the Bells were pitching a combined no-hitter for 6.1 innings. Lewis would get out of that inning with the help of Trent Mallonee throwing a runner out at second on a force out due to a bloop fielder’s choice. Myles Walton also got caught attempting to steal second. The aggressive baserunning by the Falcons led to three caught stealings tonight. 

Mallonee led off the bottom of the seventh inning with his second hit of the game. An error in left field on a bobbled grounder allowed Mallonee to advance to second base. Gavin Long hit a ground ball single into left field that moved Mallonee to third base. Roman Martin would score Mallonee as the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh.

Now up 1-0, Lewis pitched a 1-2-3 eighth inning. The Bells loaded the bases in the bottom of the eighth but were unable to add to the one run lead. Lewis initially entered in the ninth but gave up a leadoff bloop single to Nate Gray Jr. Ryan Heppner would enter the game in need of three outs with the tying run on base. He would get the first two outs before walking the go-ahead run. Heppner then with runners on first and second forced Aiden Kuni into a 3-1 groundout and the Bells won 1-0.

Heppner earned his fourth save of the year and Lewis earned his second win of the season. Teagan Ribbink was given the loss for Kelowna. The Bells pitching staff struck out 11 Falcons while walking just four and allowing a minimal two hits in the shutout victory.

Mallonee led the way on offense with his 2 for 4 night including a walk and a run scored. Martin’s sacrifice fly was his only production in an 0 for 2 night with a walk. Nate Kirkpatrick hit his 11th double of the season and finished 1 for 4 at the plate. Conner Smith, Logan Degroot and Gavin Long all had a hit each.

Tomorrow night the Bellingham Bells take on the Kelowna Falcons in game two of three in the series at Joe Martin Field this week. The Bells are now 7-6 in the second half of the season and are 24-16 overall. 

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