By Joseph Traub
for the Peninsula Daily News
WALLA WALLA — Coming off a 12–2 series-ending rout at the ends of the Wenatchee AppleSox, the Port Angeles Lefties took their show back on the road to Walla Walla. Despite a better effort, the Lefties fell short by a final score of 4–3 to the Sweets on Friday evening.
Lefties starter Frankie Scalzo pitched well, allowing just two earned runs in five innings, but was let down by his defense in a three-run third which ended up being the difference in the game. An error by third baseman Justin Fugitt and a passed ball were key plays in the frame. Emmanuel Dean’s RBI single for the Sweets scored the third and final tally of the inning.
Port Angeles had drawn five walks in the second inning to take an early 2–0 lead. Fugitt worked a bases-loaded free pass to chase Sweets starter Chazz Martinez, who had earlier allowed a run on a wild pitch.
After falling behind 4–2, the Lefties scored again in the seventh inning on Ethan Groff’s RBI groundout, scoring Trevor Rosenberg. Groff struck out with Jeff Jamison on third base in the ninth to end the game.
The Lefties (6-10 WCL) have dropped six straight games and eight out of nine. They played Saturday night after press deadline and then wrap up their series with the first-place Sweets (11-2, South Division) at 6:05 p.m. today. The Lefties return home to Civic Field for an eight-game homestand beginning at 6:35 p.m. Tuesday against Yakima.
Walla Walla 4, Port Angeles 3
Lefties 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 — 3 4 1
Sweets 0 0 3 1 0 0 0 0 x — 4 7 2
WP: Boeneke LP: Scalzo
Pitching
Lefties — Scalzo 5IP, 7H, 2ER, Hamrick 2IP, 0H, 0ER, BB, K; Loewen 1IP, 0H, BB, 3K.
Sweets — Martinez 1.2IP, 0H, 5BB; 4K; Boeneke 2.1IP, H, 0H, 0BB, K; Hueckman 2IP, 0H, 0ER, 2BB, 2K; Irwin 2IP, ER, 2BB; Sebby 1IP, H, 0BB, 2K.
Hitting
Lefties — Halligan 1-2, R, 2BB, SB; Rosenberg 1-2, R, BB; Jamison 1-1; Christian 1-4; Fugitt 0-2, BB, RBI; Groff 0-5, RBI.
Sweets — Lopez 2-4, R; Ephan 1-3, R; Cirillo 2-2, R, RBI; Dean 1-4, RBI.
Wenatchee 12, Port Angeles 2
PORT ANGELES — The Lefties gave up seven runs in the third inning to Wenatchee in a 12-2 loss to the AppleSox on Thursday.
Ronnie Rust had a two-run home run in the ninth inning for the Lefties, driving in Groff, who had singled earlier in the inning.
Rosenberg, Matt Boissoneault and Alexander Marco all had singles for the Lefties.
Starter Jonathan Fortner took the loss for Port Angeles on the mound. A.C. Chavez finished up the game, going two scoreless innings without allowing a hit or a walk. He struck out two.
Sports Editor Pierre LaBossiere contributed to this report.
Wenatchee 12, Port Angeles 2
Sox 0 2 7 0 1 0 2 0 0 — 12 13 0
Lefties 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 — 2 5 2
WP: Wyatt LP: Fortner
Pitching
AppleSox — Kulak 4IP, 2H, 0ER, BB, 7K; Wyatt 5IP, 3H, 2ER, 0BB, 8K.
Lefties — Fortner 2IP, H, ER, 2BB, K; Tresemer 2IP, 7H, 7ER, 2BB, K; Fitch 1IP, H, ER, K; Dunaway 1IP, H, 2BB, K; Buchanan 1IP, 3H, 2ER, 2K; A. Chavez 2IP, 0H, 0ER, 0BB, 2K.
Hitting
AppleSox — Ayers 2-5, 2R, 4RBI; Darcy 2-5, HR, 2R, 2RBI; McKenzie 3-4, R; McPhillips 2-4, 2B, 2R, BB; Kolden 2-5, R; Detloff 1-5, 2R.
Lefties — Rust 1-4, HR, R, 2RBI; Groff 1-4, R; Marco 1-3; Rosenberg 1-3; Boissoneault 1-3.