Story by Josh Kozelj 

FULL BOXSCORE

July 14, 2018 – The Victoria HarbourCats blew a late two-run lead, but managed to come back in the 10th inning to come away with a 3-2 win and second straight victory over the Cowlitz Black Bears at Story Field in Longview, WA.

One day after scoring early, plating three runs in the first four innings, the HarbourCats once again drew first blood tonight.

After three scoreless frames to start the game, Hunter Vansau hit a solo shot to give the visitors from Vancouver Island a 1-0 lead in the fourth for his starting pitcher and freshly named WCL North Division All-Star Garrett Goodall some run support.

Goodall, who will join Tyler Yoshihara and Jeddediah Fagg at the 2018 All Star Game in Port Angeles this Tuesday, lived up to that nomination tonight.

The righty out of Embry-Riddle University would go six strong innings of one run ball, and rack up five strikeouts on the evening to increase his total to 26 K’s on the season.

One inning later the HarbourCats loaded the bases with two walks and a hit by pitch off Black Bears starter Mitch Lines, and one batter later Joe Casey would double Victoria’s lead to two with a RBI sac-fly.

Lines would collect six strikeouts on the night, but would be charged with both runs in 4 1/3 innings on the mound.

The only blemish on Goodall’s start would be in the home half of the sixth.

Blake Burton started the frame with a lead-off double, and after getting two quick outs it looked like Goodall might escape the inning unscathed, but he would yield a two-out RBI single to Tony Boetto that cut Victoria’s lead in half.

Coming in for relief of Goodall, Justin Solt would pitch two innings of one-hit ball to send the game into the ninth with the HarbourCats holding onto a one run lead.

However, the final three outs would be hard to get against a scrappy Black Bears team,

Cowlitz started the inning with a walk and single, yet the HarbourCats would get back to back outs to send the Black Bears to their final out. From there Ryan Kim would tie the game at two apiece with a clutch RBI single, to send the game into extras.

Not fazed from blowing the lead, Casey and Blake Wagenseller started the tenth with back to back singles, and one out later Dustin Miller smacked a single of his own to give the HarbourCats the decisive 3-2 advantage.

Nathan Walker would come on in the bottom half, and shut down the Black Bears to collect his third save of the season and ensure Victoria would leave Longview with the series victory.

The HarbourCats will go for the series sweep tomorrow night at 5:05 in Cowlitz County, before a two-day All-Star break on the following Monday and Tuesday, and then will open a three game home series against Corvallis on July 18.