The Victoria HarbourCats franchise did not have long to bask in the 4,200-plus glow of a record-setting night of attendance Tuesday at Royal Athletic Park during the West Coast League all-star game.
The HarbourCats, including the club鈥檚 five all-stars, were in the much-less crowded confines of the Kitsap BlueJackets鈥� home park Wednesday before 317 fans in Bremerton, Wash., where Victoria pounced on a prime opportunity to make a move up the North Division standings.
While the division co-leading Wenatchee AppleSox and Walla Walla Sweets were both going down to defeat, the HarbourCats edged the BlueJackets 6-5 for their third consecutive victory to claw back to .500 at 18-18.
The Sweets, who had nine players named to the WCL all-star game, were humbled 16-2 by the Cowlitz Black Bears, while the AppleSox were beaten 6-2 by the Bellingham Bells.
The results moved the fourth-place HarbourCats to within two games of Walla Walla and Wenatchee, while the third-place Bells inched to within half a game of the two North Division co-leaders.
Kitsap, which for some reason is in the South Division, is 13-27 and in last place. So the HarbourCats see it as imperative to come out of Bremerton with a win in the three-game series, which continues tonight and Friday.
Will Ballowe from the University of Washington Huskies worked just two-thirds of an inning but took the win in relief of starter Logan Lombana. Ryan Keller in turn relieved Ballowe and earned the save by allowing one hit over 22脷3 innings.
鈥淚 felt totally relaxed and in great command,鈥� said Keller said. 鈥淚 knew if I threw the ball where I needed to, my teammates would be there to back me up,鈥� added the 6-foot-3 right-hander from the University of San Diego.
Victoria manager Dennis Rogers liked his pitching.
鈥淲e got decent mileage out of Lombana [52脷3 innings] and we made the pitches in the late innings,鈥� he said.
Chris Lewis was the Victoria offensive star with three hits, including a double, two RBIs and a run scored.
The top two teams in each division make the playoffs. Victoria has 18 games remaining in the 54-game regular season.
