APPLESOX EVEN SERIES WITH COMEBACK WIN
/
The AppleSox were led by a three-RBI performance from Danny Amaral, and great defensive play helped seal a win down the stretch, Tuesday.
WENATCHEE, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (16-20, 13-19) came-from-behind late in Tuesday night’s conterst to defeat the Kelowna Falcons (23-10, 22-10), 6-3 at Paul Thomas Sr. Field.
Early on it looked like the AppleSox could be in trouble for the second-consecutive night. Kelowna led 3-0 heading to the bottom of the fifth inning, and Wenatchee was no-hit by Kelowna starter, Nat Hamby, for 5 2/3 innings.
Drew Helmstadter broke up the string of 5 2/3 hitless innings with a two-out single in the fifth. Danny Amaral followed with an RBI single that scored Kyle Vanderkin, who was aboard earlier in the inning with a walk.
In the sixth, Hamby stranded a Sox runner, and Wenatchee moved to 1-for-5 on the night with runners in scoring position.
The seventh inning provided more excitement for Wenatchee, as again with two outs, Helmstadter and Amaral sparked a rally for Wenatchee. Helmstadter started with a single, and was drive in on an Amaral RBI triple to right field that got over the head of Joey Crunkilton. A relay throw from shallow right field got over the head of Kelowna’s third baseman and bounced into the Wenatchee dugout, bringin Amaral all the way home on the play, while evening the score at 3.
Max Carter (0-1), was charged with the loss after allowing the first two runners of the inning aboard, on a walk and double. Keston Hiura had another two-hit night for Wenatchee – including his third double of the series. Mitchell Holland drove in Evan Douglas as the go-ahead run with a hard single over Lance Lacrone’s head at short.
Two more runs came to score in the inning on a bunt single for Sheldon Liikala and RBI bases-loaded walk for Danny Amaral.
Colton Loomis (1-1) relieved AppleSox starter Gage Burland, who did a great job of holding the Sox in the contest, with only the three runs allowed all night (one driven in on an RBI). Loomis had some troubles with the strike zone but was picked up by a stout Wenatchee defense.
The AppleSox turned a single league game-high 3 double plays Tuesday, including one for Burland with the bases loaded in the fifth inning and no outs. Another got Loomis out of the top of the eighth, and the third followed a four-pitch walk in the top of the ninth. Loomis capped the game with a strikeout, and the Cashmere native clinched the win on Cashmere Night at the ballpark.
The series concludes Wednesday, with Kid’s Day, presented by Fred Meyer. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m., and Zach Haggett (3-1) will pitch for the AppleSox.
WP: Colton Loomis (1-1)
LP: Max Carter (0-1)
