WENATCHEE — Evan Jilbert’s opposite-field, two-run home run in the second inning and a sterling six-inning performance by starting pitcher Hunter Kirkpatrick sparked Port Angeles to a 7-1 win over Wenatchee.
It was Kirkpatrick’s second straight well-crafted outing of the WCL season. He went six full innings, scattering four hits and a walk with one strikeout.
Kirkpatrick, a San Diego Community College player with a Rollie Fingers-style mustache, has yet to yield a run in 10 2/3 innings on the hill for the Lefties so far.
Jilbert’s two-run laser beam over the right field fence scored Kemet Brown with two outs in the top of the second.
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Evan Jilbert with a 2-run oppo 🚀 for the Lefties!
(@JilbertEvan/@EdmondsBaseball)@PALefties @WCLBaseball @EdmondsTritons pic.twitter.com/aFXMGOBUDa— PNW College Baseball Report (@PNW_CBR) June 9, 2022
Riley Parker added an RBI double in the third, the Lefties scored on infield errors in the fifth and seventh innings and Mason Persons also added an RBI single to account for Port Angeles’ runs.
Spokane Falls Community College’s Liam Paddock made his debut in relief of Kirkpatrick, striking out four batters while walking one and allowing a hit in two innings.
Zack Ediger, a 2021 Lefties pitcher, got the final two outs to close out the win and stop Port Angeles’ three-game losing skid.
The Lefties (4-4) were off Thursday on the long bus trek from Wenatchee to WCL North Division newcomer Edmonton (2-7). Game times for the three-game weekend series are 6:05 p.m. today and Saturday and 12:05 p.m. Sunday.