baseball

Crabs remain in a tight race for PEL championship series

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The Humboldt Crabs will try to salvage something from their summer series with the Healdsburg Prune Packers when the two clubs close out a three-game Pacific Empire League series at the Arcata ball Park on Thursday night.

The high-flying Prune Packers stretched their winning streak to 10 straight with victories at the Arcata ball Park on Tuesday and Wednesday night.

The visitors opened the series with an 11-2 win and followed that with a 4-1 win in game two and they have now won all five games against the Crabs this summer.

The Prune Packers lead the newly-formed PEL with a league record of 20-2 and hold a sizable 9.5 game lead in the standings.

However, the race for second place is shaping up to be a good one with three teams battling neck and neck and a fourth not too far behind.

The Lincoln Potters, who have taken four of six league games against the Crabs this summer, are 9-10, followed by both the Crabs and Medford Rogues, with identical records of 9-11, with the Solano Mudcats (8-13) also in the mix.

On Tuesday night, the Prune Packers scored runs in four of the first five innings to open up a 9-2 lead and never looked back.

They out-hit the Crabs 12-4.

Antonio Avila led the Crabs at the plate and was 2-for-3 with a run scored, including double.

Caleb Ruiz took the loss on the mound for the home team.

The former St. Bernard’s standout got the start and threw four innings, allowing six runs on eight hits and striking out four.

Former Eureka Logger Hayden Bode threw three innings in relief, giving up two hits and no walks and striking out four.

Wednesday’s game was closer.

Pitcher Logan Salmon kept the Crabs in the game early on and they held a one-run lead after four innings.

However, the Prune Packers would put up four unanswered runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings and they held on for the win.

Jett Ruby led the way at the plate for the home team and finished 2-for-5, as the Crabs out-hit Healdsburg 4-3 for the game.

Despite a solid outing, Saloman took the loss, allowing just one run on one hit and four walks and striking out five.

Thursday’s series finale is set for 7 p.m.

After that the Crabs have five PEL games remaining as they look to book a place in the PEL Championship Series, which will be held in two weeks.

The Crabs play three PEL games against the Medford Rogues this weekend and two more against the West Coast Kings next week.

They are now 23-13 overall.

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