MICHAEL TOGLIA HITS LEAGUE-LEADING FIFTH HOME RUN, APPLESOX FALL

Michael Toglia belted his league-leading fifth home run over the right field fence, Wednesday, but it wasn't enough for an AppleSox offense that mustered just three hits. 

BOX SCORE

WENATCHEE –  A two-run blast wasn’t enough to power the Wenatchee AppleSox (11-24, 1-7 Second Half), past the Bend Elks (15-20, 5-3), in a 4-2 loss at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium, Wednesday.

The AppleSox were held hitless through the first three innings of Wednesday’s contest. Meanwhile, Bend built a lead in the first on a run scoring via error and an RBI single for Patrick Flynn. 

Luke Mattson (1-6) settled down after the first three batters of the night reached base. He retired nine straight. Bend again reached him for two runs in the fourth inning on four hits, including RBI singles for Jared Gonzales and Derek Chapman. 

Wenatchee answered with its only runs of the night in the bottom half of the inning. Following a Ryan Kreidler walk, Toglia delvered the team’s first hit of the game on a deep home run to right field. The two-run shot tied him with Victoria’s Ben Polshuk with the most in the WCL to date. It was the Sox’ ninth home run at home this year, of a WCL third-best 12 total dingers. 

Wenatchee went quiet the rest of the night, collecting just two more hits off of Kris Jackson (3-2), Bend’s starter. Jackson made it through seven innings, and Wenatchee’s lone other offensive chance came on an Alex Gonzales robbed home run in the eight inning by Flynn. 

The would-be blast come off of Gerhett Moser, but Flynn brought it back from over the right field fence. 

Nick Hoefling threw a stellar three innings of scoreless relief for Wenatchee starting in the sixth inning, and the bullpen kept Bend from scoring, but it was too little, too late, for the AppleSox offense. 

Game three of the series and the finale on the homestand is Thursday night at 7:05 p.m. Justin Blatner (2-1) will pitch for the AppleSox.