APPLESOX SWEPT BY HARBOURCATS
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The Wenatchee AppleSox fell 6-4 to the Victoria HarbourCats Thursday night. Wenatchee fell to 0-6 on the season.
VICTORIA – The Wenatchee AppleSox (0-6), were swept by the Victoria HarbourCats (3-3), after suffering a 6-4 loss Thursday night at Royal Athletic Park in Victoria, B.C.
Wenatchee grabbed its first lead of 2016 on the season in the first inning, Thursday, off of Victoria starter James Kannenberg. Jeremy Ydens got the first of his three hits on the night with two outs in the frame, and was brought home to score on an error by the HarbourCats shortstop Wyatt Young.
Following a 1-2-3 bottom half of the first inning by Luke Mattson, who was making his AppleSox debut, Wenatchee added two more in the top of the second. Ryan Murkle, who singled, and Jordan Rathbone, who walked each scored on an error at first base by Matt Warkentin.
The 3-0 advantage was cut in the home half, when Warkentin deposited a solo home run over the wall in left center field. The HarbourCats evened the score in the fourth on a 2-RBI double from Dakota Dean.
Mattson was poised in his AppleSox debut, and the Sox got him back a 4-3 lead in the top of the sixth on an RBI groundout for Steven Machtolf. Parker Price scored on the play, who was aboard earlier in the inning on a walk. A half inning earlier, Machtolf started a double play after diving for a popped bunt attempt on the first base side. He doubled his runner back at first with a throw to Erik Sauve after the miraculous diving catch.
The Sox lead was short-lived. Mattson gave up two runs in the bottom of the sixth on Dean’s second 2-RBI double of the night. It got over the glove of Machtolf on a sharp bounce, with the infield playing in. PJ Floyd and Warkentin scored to give the ‘Cats the advantage.
Riley Guntrip added an insurance run in the eighth inning off of Ross Clevenger. An RBI single scored Floyd and made it 6-4, HarbourCats.
Holden Lyons was lights out in relief for the HarbourCats. He tossed three innings of one-hit baseball to secure the win for Victoria and pick up the club’s first save.
Wenatchee heads back home, Friday morning, and will arrive at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium in the late afternoon to prepare for a three-game set with the Corvallis Knights. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m., and Friday’s game opens a nine-game homestand for the AppleSox.
