NANAIMO — Thirteen runs on 16 hits, in front of former MLB superstar Manny Ramirez — a night Nanaimo NightOwls fans will not soon forget.
The NightOwls won the third and final game of the series with the visiting Victoria HarbourCats on Thursday night at Serauxmen Stadium, registering a 13-5 victory with Ramirez creating a buzz with fans in the stands and throwing out a delayed ceremonial pitch to a standing ovation.
Not to be lost in the offensive outburst was starting pitcher Aidan Russell setting a NightOwls record with 10 strikeouts in his five innings of work, giving up two hits and one run.
The NightOwls had six players with two hits — Nevan Noonan, Riley Paulino, Aaron Marsh, Drew Rutter, Cassidy Watt and Ryder Florence. Marsh drove in three runs, with two each from Florence and Paulino.
Getting out to a fast start with runs in the first inning, two more in the third, and three each in the fourth and fifth innings. Four more in the eighth wrapped it up.
The NightOwls, now 7-8, struck out just three times.
Russell’s stellar start was followed by two innings from Li Sih-te, a third of an inning from Grant Jakobson, and a strong 1.2 innings from lefty Hayden Cuthbertson.
The NightOwls head to Portland early Friday morning for a three-game series that runs Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The next home action is on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday with the Kamloops NorthPaws at Serauxmen Stadium.
