The Victoria HarbourCats were on the road but traction was again hard to find Thursday night in a 7-4 West Coast League baseball loss to the Kitsap Bluejackets in Bremerton, Washington.
The BlueJackets took the series with two consecutive victories after dropping the first game. Victoria has now lost five of its first-six three-game series, each 2-1, to start the season. Victoria鈥檚 only previous series win came at home against Kitsap.
Kitsap starter Colten Barnes was effective over six innings and took the win with a two-hitter, no runs allowed, five strikeouts and two walks.
Torin Goldstein unloaded a solo-shot homer for Victoria in the seventh inning off reliever Brandon Colbert. Goldstein, a six-foot-three infielder out of Fresno State, was heard from again in the eighth inning when he recorded his second RBI of the night on a fielder鈥檚 choice.
Victoria starter Matt Blais from UC-Davis (0-1) went four innings, giving up five hits, three runs with four strikeouts and four walks. Sean O鈥橳oole came on in relief and was dinged for one run on no hits but three walks in 22脷3 innings.
The BlueJackets climbed over .500 at 8-7, while the HarbourCats dipped to 7-11.
The HarbourCats return to Royal Athletic Park tonight to begin a three-game set against the Wenatchee AppleSox (5-10), who come to the Island having lost three consecutive games.
