The Kamloops NorthPaws dropped game one against the HarbourCats 9-3 on Tuesday night to begin their six-game Vancouver Island road trip. Victoria scored seven unanswered runs after the NorthPaws got off to a 1-0 lead in the first. A home run in the bottom half of the first was enough to springboard the HarbourCats to victory. On the mound, Victoria used only two pitchers and held the NorthPaws to just three hits while recording 10 strikeouts.
The NorthPaws roster turnover has begun, and their lineup featured several new players, and one of them got the NorthPaws on the board. Center fielder Ethan Kodama led off with a walk. Left fielder Cade Palkowski singled while Kodama was stealing second. With runners on the corners, new guy Kason Siguenza laid down a sacrifice bunt to get the NorthPaws on the board.
Right-hander Mason Chien returned to the NorthPaws and made his first start since June 29th. The HarbourCats got to him early with a three-run home run. After striking out the side in the second inning, two singles and two walks scored the fourth run for Victoria. With the bases loaded, a sacrifice groundout extended the lead. A wild pitch made it 6-1.
That ended the night for Chien as he gave up six earned runs through three innings, giving up four hits and striking out six as well.
“I told him after the game that although he might not like his box score, I thought he threw the ball well tonight. I think his misses were a little too big tonight, and they took advantage,” said Pitching Coach Jack Slominski.
The NorthPaws chipped away in the fifth and sixth, getting a pair of runs, but that’s all they could manufacture as the HarbourCats pitchers went to work shutting down the bats.
On the mound for Kamloops, righty Nick Westendorp took over and gave up one earned in the fourth, but settled in from there. Westendorp threw three scoreless innings, retiring eight batters in a row at one point. Victoria eventually got to him in the bottom of the eighth for two runs, but overall, the righty went four and a third innings out of the bullpen.
“I sat down with him and just said we have nothing to lose, so let’s throw everything with as much conviction as possible, and he did a great job at that,” said Slominski.
Despite the game being out of reach, the NorthPaws’ new guys are soaking up the opportunity and trying to make the most of it. For core guys on the team, this can provide a spark as the regular season comes to a close.
“I think bringing in the new guys and getting some fresh faces in there can give us a real energy boost down the stretch,” said Catcher Matt MacDonald.
The NorthPaws will look for revenge in game two on Wednesday night against the HarbourCats. The first pitch is set for 6:35, and you can find the game on West Coast League TV or the Victoria HarbourCats YouTube channel.
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