Extra, Extra!

YAKIMA, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (22-18, 18-17) found themselves in a similar situation as Wednesday night, when the Yakima Valley Pippins (21-14) forced Friday’s contest to extra innings, but the AppleSox would create a 7-4 victory in the eleventh inning.  

On Wednesday, the AppleSox stranded a whole bushel of runners in scoring position during extra frames. When Tyler Frost hit a one-out triple in the eleventh, the AppleSox decided to manufacture a go-ahead run.

With a 3-1 count to AJ Alcantara, Head Coach Ed Knaggs put on a suicide squeeze call and the bunt paid off perfectly. This was after the AppleSox missed a similar call on the road in Walla Walla in a 14 inning contest two nights ago.

Alcantara and Michael McCann were later brought around to score in the eleventh, helped by two errors against Vince Fernandez and JC Snyder.

Trenton Brooks was able to finish the game and secure his win as he allowed a walk in the bottom of the eleventh, but retired the rest of his batters.

Friday’s contest was a pitcher’s duel until the fifth inning, in which the AppleSox were able to score four runs in the top half. Five consecutive singles and a Caleb Wood two-RBI double, helped spur the quick run production for Wenatchee.

The five hits in the fifth off of undefeated starter, Eli Morgan (5-0), came after the AppleSox were held to one hit through the first four innings.

Yakima Valley would answer with one off of Ian Buckles in the bottom of the fifth, to break the shut out.

Vince Fernandez then made the game interesting in the bottom of the sixth, as he hit a two-run home run to right field to bring the Pippins within a run.

Nathan Hadley helped get the AppleSox out of the sixth and looked to have a chance to do the same in the seventh, but while attempting to play a pop up in foul territory, Hadley was unable to secure the baseball and the Pippins had new life.

Justin Jacobs then smashed a pitch to right field for an RBI to tie the game at four.

The score would hold until Wenatchee pulled off the suicide squeeze in the eleventh.

With the win, Wenatchee took the first two games of the series from Yakima Valley. They now are three games back in the WCL East and have a chance to make it two, with a sweep on Saturday night. This will all set up a major race in the WCL East headed out of the All Star break.

Calvin LeBrun will make his first start of 2014, Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

WEN   0 0 0  0 4 0   0 0 0   0 3     7  13  1

YAK    0 0 0  0 1 2   1 0 0   0 0     4   9   2

WP – Trenton Brooks

LP – Beau Kerns

S –