Pitchers' Duel Goes to Sweets

WALLA WALLA, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (3-2, 0-1) worked to erase a combined no-hitter in the seventh inning Tuesday night, against the Walla Walla Sweets (2-2, 2-2), in a tough, 1-0 loss at Borleske Stadium. 

The first game of the three-game set was a pitchers’ duel, with Gage Burland and Jeider Rincon going toe-to-toe during the first five innings.

The two each shutout their opponents, as Rincon twirled five hitless innings.

Burland gave up just four hits and walked two, while striking out five. Rincon walked four AppleSox hitters and walked six.

Jake Simmons earned the win for Walla Walla, as the Sweets pushed across a run in the bottom of the sixth on a bases loaded RBI sacrifice fly to center field, off of Micael Taylor. The Sweets ended up 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position.

Simmons threw three innings, giving up two hits, including the AppleSox first in the seventh inning to Sheldon Liikala.

Wenatchee added one more single from Kyle Vanderkin in the eighth, but the Sox were retired 1-2-3 in the ninth by Cam Richman, who preserved the 1-0 win for the Sweets.

The AppleSox look to stay strong on the mound in game two, and will hope to heat up offensively. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m. Hunter Wells goes up against Easton Lucas in the two pitchers’ first starts of the season.

WP: Jake Simmons (1-0)

LP: Micael Taylor (0-1)

S: Cam Richman (1)