APPLESOX PULL OFF COMEBACK, SWEEP FALCONS FOR WCL NORTH FIRST PLACE

KELOWNA, B.C – The Wenatchee AppleSox (21-15, 6-3 second half) swept both the three-game and season series with a 7-4 win over the Kelowna Falcons (19-20, 2-10), after trailing 4-0 entering the eighth inning, Sunday night at Elks Stadium at Kelowna, B.C.

The AppleSox were shut out in the first seven innings by Kelowna starter Sam Menegat (no decision). He scattered nine hits and struck out eight batters without issuing a walk.

His bullpen fell apart in the eighth inning. Kelowna first turned to Andrew Alvarez out of the bullpen. Alvarez faced five batters, and gave up three hits. Jake Taylor and Adrian Damla both singled to start the rally.

After a flyout to right field by Jalen Garcia, Matt Reitano doubled home Taylor to cut the AppleSox deficit to 4-1. It was Reitano’s second hit of the night, after he entered the game with just two hits on the season.

Jack Machtolf walked off of Alvarez, to load the bases, and forced Kelowna to go to the bullpen. The Falcons called on right-hander Ryan Smith.

Smith (1-1) walked two batters with the bases loaded, and allowed the AppleSox to cut the deficit to one run at 4-3.

Kelowna again went to the bullpen, and called on Chase Wiger. Wiger walked a batter with the bases loaded to tie the game, and then issued a wild pitch to allow Wenatchee to claim a 5-4 lead. Another walk, re-loaded the bases for Wenatchee.

Anthony Garcia was the last out of the bullpen for Kelowna in the inning. He also walked home a run with the bases loaded. It was the sixth-consecutive walk for the AppleSox, who brought 12 batters to the plate in the inning.

Leading 6-4, Adrian Damla hit a bases loaded 4-6 groundout for another RBI and a 7-4 AppleSox lead.

Steen Fredrickson (1-2) was on the mound in the seventh inning, and gave Kelowna its 4-0 lead on an RBI single. He recovered in the seventh to strike out the side. In the eighth, he struck out the side again, working his three punchouts around one walk.

Connor Leedholm finished the game with a 1-2-3 ninth and earned the save (4). He issued the 11th-consecutive out on a strikeout for the AppleSox to finish the game (the outs were not recorded consecutively).

Connor McCord tossed two strikeouts in his one inning of work in the sixth. McKabe Cottrell started the game with five innings of two-run baseball. Cottrell was tabbed with a no decision.

With the sweep, Wenatchee went 6-0 this year against the Kelowna Falcons. It was the AppleSox first season series sweep of six-or-more games since Wenatchee went 6-0 versus the Kitsap BlueJackets in 2013.

The AppleSox are now in sole possession of first place in the WCL North Second Half, and are a half a game ahead of the Victoria HarbourCats in the standings at the All Star Break.

Wenatchee will have a day off Monday and then the AppleSox, Journey Travel and Tours, and Sunny FM will celebrate Hawaiian Night, Tuesday, July 18, and a lucky fan will take home a dream Hawaiian vacation package, including airfare, hotel, rental car, and a snorkeling and Catamaran tour. First pitch versus the Highline Bears is at 7:05 p.m. at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.