SWEETS EVEN SERIES WITH WALKOFF

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The AppleSox took a 4-3 lead in the top of the seventh, but Walla Walla rallied late for the win.

The AppleSox took a 4-3 lead in the top of the seventh, but Walla Walla rallied late for the win.

WALLA WALLA, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (11-13, 8-12) saw a late-inning lead slip away Wednesday, as the Walla Walla Sweets (11-12, 11-12) walked off 5-4 in nine innings at Borleske Stadium.

A bases load wild pitch led to the Sweets scoring the game-winning run. Jon Hechtner came to score on the play.

The AppleSox scored first in the third inning, on a Joey Jansen RBI single. It was his first of two RBI on the night. His hit scored Danny Amaral who walked and stole second to get into scoring position.

The lead held for the AppleSox, after Chris Carns, the Sox starter threw four one-hit shutout innings for Wenatchee. Walla Walla finally broke into the run column in the fifth inning, with three runs scoring on four hits. Colton Loomis entered in relief to get the final out, and pitched the next three innings.

Wenatchee regained a lead in the seventh inning, as Jansen added his second RBI as part of a three hit night. The RBI single with one out brought the game to a 3-2 score. Then, Keston Hiura hit a 2-RBI double down into the right field corner to give the AppleSox a 4-3 lead into the bottom half of the inning. Wenatchee was potentially limited one run on a pick off call at first base that resulted in an out.

Walla Walla evened the contest in the bottom of the seventh on a groundout on the infield for Connor Kopach, after a runner went first to third on a throwing error on a pickoff attempt at first base.

The Sweets faced Brian Gadsby in the bottom of the ninth inning, and his 13 2/3 scoreless innings streak came to an end, when the Sweets got runners at the corners with no outs and the AppleSox were forced to intentionally walk the bases loaded. A wild pitch on a 1-2 count to Kopach allowed the winning run around to score.

The rubber match of the series is Thursday night at 7:05 p.m. at Borleske Stadium. Micael Taylor (1-2) will get the start for Wenatchee – his first start of the summer.

WP: Clayten Ayers (1-0)
LP: Brian Gadsby (1-1)