Emilio Nogales had a two-hit and two RBI night to help power the HarbourCats to a 7-1 win over Walla Walla on Tuesday evening (File Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

by Christian J. Stewart

July 16, 2019, Walla Walla, WA – Emilio Nogales had two hits and two RBI, while Harrison Spohn and Nick Adams both homered to power the Victoria HarbourCats to a 7-1 win over the Walla Walla Sweets Tuesday evening in West Coast League action at Borleske Stadium in Walla Walla.

The win avenges the HarbourCats 6-3 defeat in game one of the series on Monday and sets up a rubber match with the Sweets on Wednesday evening, where the ‘Cats will send Reagan MacDonald to the mound in an attempt to secure the series win.

Victoria started the scoring early Tuesday with an RBI single in the top of the first from Nogales, scoring Griffin Paxton who had walked.

The Sweets answered with a run in the bottom of the second, but then watched as the HarbourCats blew it open with a six-run frame in the top of the fourth, highlighted by a solo home run from Spohn, a two-run blast by Adams and RBI singles from Nogales and Tyson Hays.

That would be all the runs the HarbourCats pitching would need, as Calvin Turchin (now 3-2 on the season) was great in the start, giving up just the single Sweets run on seven scattered hits, walking just one and striking out three, in six full innings of work.  Connor Barrison would then shut things down the rest of the way, giving up just a pair of walks, and striking out one to close out the win.

Walla Walla starter Ty Hueckman (3-1) takes the loss, his first of the season, giving up five runs on five hits in just 3.1 innings of work.

Game three and the deciding game of the series goes at 6:35 pm on Wednesday night.  The HarbourCats will then enjoy a travel day Thursday before returning home for their Summer Fireworks weekend series against the Yakima Valley Pippins.  First game in that goes Friday at 6:35 pm. Same start time Saturday, with 5,000 fans expected to fill the park for post-game fireworks. The series concludes with a Sunday matinee at 1:00 pm.

Tickets for all games available at https://www.ticketrocket.co/event/season/1

Game Notes: With his 18th stolen base of the year Tuesday, Parker Bramlett has quietly moved to within one of the single-season team record of 19 set by teammate Nick Plaia in 2018.  SIX HarbourCats were named today to the 2019 West Coast League All-Star game including Bramlett, Jason Willow, Nick Plaia, Tyson Hays, Frankie Niemann and Jack Hyde.