Falcons Visit Bells
- Updated: June 27, 2014
The Falcons will open up a six game road trip beginning on Friday night in Bellingham against the Bells.
It’s the first meeting of the season between these two teams, the Falcons (6-12) sit in fourth place in the East Division, while the Bells (9-5) sit atop the West Division.
The Falcons are 3-7 in their last 10 games and are coming off three straight losses at home against the Yakima Pippins being outscored 24-5.
It won’t get any easier for the Falcons this weekend. The Bells have the second highest team batting average (.289) and have scored the second most runs (103) in the West Coast League.
For the Falcons pitching staff, this is a series that they must establish themselves, especially the starters. The staff has the highest team ERA; 6.52 and are the only group to issue over 100 walks (110). As a team, the Falcons staff have allowed the most earned runs (108) and the second most hits (175).
Staying on the mound, the Bells have also had great success through their first 14 games. They have the second best ERA at 3.27 and have given up the least amount of hits (89) and second least earned runs (45).
Falcons hitters have a team average of .242, scoring 66 runs and collecting 138 hits. The offense is currently struggling scoring just five runs in the last three games. Scotland Church continues to lead the club with a .354 average and eight RBIs. Brandon Grimsley’s seven game hit streak helped raise his average to .314 and will look to start a new hit streak on Friday after going hitless on Thursday.
The probable starters for the series in Bellingham are:
Friday – 1-1 righty Josh Nuernberg – 4.72 ERA and 14 strikeouts. Last appearance was June 20 in Corvallis suffering a loss after 4.2 innings, allowing four runs on three hits.
Saturday – 0-0 lefty Sam Murphy – 7.10 ERA and 10 strikeouts. This will be Murphy’s first start of the summer. His last appearance was Tuesday night, throwing two perfect innings against Yakima.
Sunday – 1-1 righty Jeremy Newton – 3.37 ERA with 11 strikeouts. Last appearance was June 22 in Corvallis when he recorded the win after 4.2 innings, allowing just one run, scattering five hits.
Jerod Smith photo (left) courtesy of Greystoke Photography
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