Above Image: Hudson Shupe awaits the throw before he tags out a Lefties runner attempting to steal second

FULL BOX SCORE

Victoria, BC – On a bleak and overcast Victoria evening, the Port Angeles Lefties took advantage of 15 walks, two hit batters and multiple wild pitches to walk their way to a 9-6 victory over the HarbourCats.

It was a slow start to the contest on Wednesday at Wilson’s Group Stadium as both teams struggled to get their bats out from the get go, especially the the Lefties who registered only 3 hits throughout the entire game.  While the HarbourCats managed to notch 10 hits on the night, they were still handed their first loss of the summer. 

The HarbourCats jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning after a bases loaded two RBI single off the bat of Aidan Aguilar, which scored Clarke Henry and Hudson Shupe from second and third. 

Hudson Shupe celebrates after scoring the first run of the game (Photo: Christian J Stewart)

The Lefties would return with one run in the top of the third before Victoria answered with one of their own in the bottom of the fifth. The knockout punches would come in the top half of the seventh and eighth innings when Port Angeles scored two and four runs respectively. 

There was some sloppiness on the HarbourCats end this evening, with two errors and a plethora of passed balls and wild pitches ultimately coming back to bite them. The real ‘Cat killer however was the 15 walks and 2 hit batters that Victoria pitchers issued, with the damp weather certainly playing a factor in the struggles to find the plate.

Lefties left-fielder, Jesh Leckey slides home safe during the top of the sixth inning

The HarbourCats would score three runs in the bottom of the ninth in a last ditch come back effort, capped off by the first Victoria homerun of the season, off the bat of catcher Colton Moore.

Incredibly the HarbourCats tripled the Lefties hit count which just went to show how the visiting side was able to manufacture runs without having to tear the cover off the baseball. 

Aidan Aguilar bats a ball into center field for his first hit in the West Coast League (Picture: Christian J Stewart)

Derek Bogh, the Lefties leadoff hitter playing center field, was the story of the night as he incredibly picked up five base on balls in his five plate appearances. Twice he would come around to score.

Luke Cheng had himself a nice night for the HarbourCats with three hits in four at bats with one of those going for a double. He would also score a couple of runs and steal a base.

Luke Cheng turns a double play during the third inning (Photo: Christian J Stewart)

Looking Forward:

The HarbourCats will finish up their opening series against Port Angeles on Thursday morning at 11 am for the annual School Spirit game with over 2, 600 students from schools around Victoria expected.  They will head to Kelowna the next day for a three game set.  Tickets for Tuesday’s School Spirit Game are available at the gates, which open at 10AM, or on-line at our official ticketing website at harbourcats.com/tickets.