HarbourCats catcher Russell Young tags out Nanaimo’s Niko Diaz on an early play at home plate.

Story and Photos by Christian J. Stewart

August 1, 2023

Victoria, BC – Marco Pirruccello scored three times and Michael Crossland had a pair of RBI as the Victoria HarbourCats erased 5-1 deficit to beat the Nanaimo Night Owls 8-6 Tuesday night in West Coast League action at Wilson’s Group Stadium in Victoria.

FULL BOX SCORE

The win moves the now 33-15 HarbourCats to within 1.5 games of Wenatchee for first place in the North Division second-half standings, as the AppleSox lost 12-1 to Bellingham.

HarbourCats starter Russell Derbyshire delves a pitch.

After jumping into a 1-0 lead, the HarbourCats found themselves down 5-1 after the top of the fifth as the Owls push 2 runs across in the top of the fourth and another three in the top of the fifth.

Victoria would respond in the bottom of that frame, taking advantage of a number of Nanaimo defensive mistakes and then getting a two-RBI single from Crossland to score four in the frame and tie the game at 5-5.  More defensive miscues for Nanaimo, who finished with four errors total in the game, allowed Victoria to score three more in the bottom of the sixth and put the game out of reach.

Hudson Shupe strokes a single in front of a crowd of over 2,800 at Wilson’s Group Stadium Tuesday night

Nanaimo would score one more in the eighth and threaten in the ninth, loading the bases, but ‘Cats closer Brett Harvey got a ground out to end the threat and the game.

In addition to Pirruccello’s two hits, Jesse Brown also had a two-hit night with an RBI and a run scored. Ryan Magdic added a double and Hudson Shupe also had a hit and a run scored to contribute to the win.

For Nanaimo Elijah Ickes had a four hit evening, including a double, while Ethan Rivera had three hits and three RBI in the losing effort.

On the mound, newcomer Dustin Davidson gets credit for the win in relief, while Harvey earns the save.  Russell Derbyshire started the game for Victoria and went four innings giving up a pair of runs (on earned) on four hits.  Four other Victoria pitchers also saw work Tuesday evening.

For Nanaimo, reliver Carson Jones takes the loss.

Ryan Magdic watches his second inning double head to centerfield

These two teams are right back at it on Wednesday night at 6:35 for the annual Odlum Brown Jersey Off Their Backs night where lucky fans can go home with a HarbourCats jersey following the game. The series wraps up Thursday at 6:35 pm with the annual Fan Appreciation Night, with all kinds of special prizes and one fan winning a Staycation at the Rialto Hotel.

Tickets for all remaining HarbourCats games and now the first TWO playoff games, can be purchased on-line at http://harbourcats.com/tickets.

Vouchers:  A reminder that all ticket vouchers must be redeemed at either of our two remaining home games and may not be used for playoffs or carried forward to 2024.