APPLESOX CLING TO LATE LEAD, WIN ON FINAL PLAY

The AppleSox caught a runner at the plate trying to score on a wild pitch to win Monday's series finale versus the Gresham GreyWolves, 5-4. 

BOX SCORE

WENATCHEE –  The Wenatchee AppleSox (11-22, 1-5 Second Half), almost lost a late-inning lead for a third straight game against the Gresham GreyWolves (16-17, 5-1), but stuck together late for a 5-4 win at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium, Monday.

After leading by three runs after five innings, Wenatchee saw its lead trickle away late, but with the bases loaded in the ninth inning, a wild pitch relayed back to the plate was in time for the game’s final out. 

Gresham got off to a lead in its first try for a sweep against the AppleSox all-time, but Wenatchee answered in the third inning with two runs of its own on a Matt Reitano RBI double, and a wild pitch to even the score at 2-2. 

In the fourth, Sheldon Liikala put the AppleSox ahead with an RBI single, in just his third game back with the team since early June. Two more runs added necessary insurance in the bottom of the fifth, when Ryan Kreidler sacrificed home a run a fly ball to center field, and Evan Douglas walked home a run with the bases loaded. 

Wenatchee walked 10 times in the game; a new single-game high for the team. The five runs backed up a five-inning start for All-Star pitcher Matt Young (2-0). He threw five innings, giving up two runs on three hits, with only one of the runs coming earned. 

Ross Clevenger relieved Young for 3 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on four hits and two doubles. He walked four batters, and left the bases loaded with one out in the top of the ninth inning. 

Miceal Taylor entered the game to preserve an AppleSox would-be win, and earned his first save of the season. He struck out a man with the bases loaded on three pitches, and then faced the man who tied Sunday night’s game in the ninth, setting up a Gresham extra-inning win. 

This time, Josh Adams wouldn’t get a chance to tie the score for Gresham. On a 2-1 wild pitch that got past the catcher Alex Gonzales, Dylan Doherty tried to score from third, but was caught back at the plate on a flip to his pitcher Taylor. 

Gonzales had entered in the fourth inning as a replacement for Matt Retiano, and made the heads-up play to save a win for Wenatchee. 

A six-game homestand continues Tuesday against the Bend Elks. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.