The Bellingham Bells were a team on a mission Friday night, and not even West Coast League all-star Adam McKillican could slow them down.
The Bells struck for four runs in the first inning against McKillican (4-1) and didn’t look back, beating the Victoria HarbourCats 10-7 to salvage the last game of the three-game series at Joe Martin Field.
The Bells (5-7) got two home runs and five RBIs from WCL all-star game home run derby champ Chase Illig and then fended off a late charge from the HarbourCats (8-5). Thanks to a Wenatchee loss at Yakima Valley, though, Victoria remains atop the North Division’s second half standings, 11Ú2 games in front of the AppleSox.
Po-Hau Huang led the Victoria attack with a three-run homer, while Sam Cachola was 1-for-5 with two RBIs.
McKillican went five innings, giving up seven runs, and Bellingham starter Patrick Siler pitched 52Ú3 innings while giving up four runs to get the win.
The HarbourCats now head south to Oregon to face the Gresham GreyWolves tonight in the first of a three-game set. Victoria returns home Tuesday to take on the Kelowna Falcons at Royal Athletic Park.
