YAKIMA — Two teams going in opposite directions saw winning and losing streaks continue as Port Angeles opened their post All-Star break schedule with a 4-3 loss to the surging Yakima Valley Pippins.
Wednesday night’s loss was the Lefties’ sixth-straight defeat, while Yakima Valley, atop the North Division’s standings at 8-2, won its sixth-consecutive contest.
A two-out triple by Pippins All-Star outfielder Cole Pofek scored two runs and erased Port Angeles’ 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Pofek later scored on a double-steal with two outs for a 3-1 Yakima Valley lead.
The Lefties pulled within one run in the next frame when Trevor Rosenberg, who had opened the inning with a single, scored on a single by Justin Vandebrake.
Pofek’s sacrifice fly in the bottom of the sixth pushed the Pippins lead back to two runs.
VanDeBrake singled and later scored after two errors by Yakima Valley in the seventh, but Port Angeles could come no closer.
Avery Santos pitched three solid innings in relief of Port Angeles starter Riley Benedetti, allowing two hits with one strikeout.
The Lefties (3-7) wrap the quick three-game road trip tonight in Yakima before returning to Civic Field for a three-game set against the Victoria HarbourCats.
Yakima Valley 4, Port Angeles 3
Lefties 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 — 3 8 1
Pippins 0 0 0 3 0 0 X— 4 7 3
WP: White LP: Beneditti SV: Driver
Pitching
Lefties — Beneditti 5IP, 4ER, 6BB, 3K; Santos 3 IP, 2H, 0BB, K.
Pippins — White 5 IP, 6H, 2ER, 4BB, 4K; Gonzales 2 IP, 2H, R, 3K; Driver 2 IP, BB, K.
Hitting
Lefties — VanDeBrake 2-4, BB, R, RBI; Tom 2-2, 2B, RBI; Earl 1-2, BB, R, RBI.
Pippins — Pofek 1-2, R, 3B, 3RBI; Lasch 3-4, R; Greene 2-4.
