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It was Nick Pivetta bobblehead night Monday at Royal Athletic Park, in honour of the former hometown Victoria HarbourCats thrower who is now in the majors with the Philadelphia Phillies.
The HarbourCats, shy on pitching depth, can be excused for wishing Pivetta was back on the RAP mound.
Six Cats pitchers gave up 19 hits in an 11-9 loss to the Bellingham Bells before 2,262 fans.
Victoria used up a start by ace Adam McKillican (5-2) in the process.
The result left Victoria tied with the Wenatchee AppleSox and half a game ahead of the Bells in the tight battle for the WCL North Division second-half regular-season crown and playoff berth that goes with it.
Victoria is 13-10 in the second half, Bellingham 12-10 and Wenatchee 12-9.
Shane McGuire of the HarbourCats, named WCL player of the week for July 24-30 by going 15-for-26 with two homers and 12 RBIs, had a hit, two RBIs and two runs scored.
The HarbourCats, with only four games remaining, close out their crucial set against the Bells tonight and Wednesday at RAP.
The situation for the Victoria pitching corps was further compounded with the departure of ace Jack Owen, who was shut down by his NCAA team.
The Auburn Tigers of the SEC, where Owen is headed as a prize freshman recruit, felt he had pitched enough this summer. The six-foot-two righty was 4-1 with a 1.01 ERA.
鈥淚t happens all the time in summer ball,鈥� said Victoria GM Brad Norris-Jones.
鈥淲e just borrow these players and have to obey what their NCAA teams say. We are a stepping stone to the next level, and don鈥檛 want to hurt the pitchers鈥� arms.鈥�
