The Victoria HarbourCats squandered a taut pitching performance from Connor Russell in losing 2-0 to the Wenatchee AppleSox on Friday night before 1,515 fans at Royal Athletic Park.
The hometown product went eight innings, giving up only three hits, before being relieved by Ryan Keller, who didn鈥檛 give up any, either, as Wenatchee won the West Coast League game on just the trio of hits.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 just the way the game goes. You can鈥檛 control that. I just wanted to go out there and give us a chance to win,鈥� said Russell, the home Island product who had six strikeouts and three walks.
But Russell got no scoring support 鈥� despite the seven HarbourCats hits 鈥� as Victoria lost for the fifth consecutive game and 12th time in the last 16 outings.
It was the seventh time this season Victoria has lost when out-hitting the opponent.
鈥淲e can鈥檛 seem to get that big hit at the right time,鈥� said Russell.
鈥淲e just have to keep grinding. We have talent. Sooner or later, it鈥檚 going to come around and the balls will start falling.鈥�
The game ended with the tying run at the plate as Mike Darr, who had two hits on the night, struck out for the last out.
鈥淲e鈥檙e getting hits but not at the right times,鈥� said Darr, a graduating Southern California high schooler, headed next season to play for HarbourCats manager Dennis Rogers at Riverside City College.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 what is hurting us. Connor [Russell] pitched a great game. It sucks that we couldn鈥檛 get it done for him tonight.鈥�
In a moment that could only befall the HarbourCats, Darr was on first base in the eighth inning with two out when Jordan Ellis unleashed what was certainly going to be a hit into right field. But the ball hit Darr, ending the inning and the Victoria threat.
鈥淭hat happens in base running, but not a lot. It was an unfortunate thing,鈥� sighed Darr.
Winner Beau Kerns of Wenatchee tossed a gem of his own in going seven innings and allowing five hits with nine strikeouts.
The season could swing for Victoria on this pivotal three-game set that continues tonight at 7 and concludes with a matinee Sunday at Royal Athletic.
