SOX SNAP STREAKS, STYMIE PIPPINS

YAKIMA, Wash. – Thanks to a season-high six extra-base hits, the AppleSox (15-23, 4-8 second half) defeated the Yakima Valley Pippins, 8-1, on Sunday night at Yakima County Stadium.

The Sox got a number of strong offensive performances to snap their four-game losing streak and the Pippins’ nine-game winning streak. Johnny Sage recorded his first four-hit game of the season, going 4-for-5 with two doubles and two runs scored. J.T. Schwartz went 3-for-5 with two doubles, a triple and 4 RBI. Evan Williams reached base twice, including via his first home run of the season.

Connor McCord provided an offensive punch as well as stymying performance on the mound. The incoming junior to Western Oregon singled three times, drove in a run and tossed scoreless eighth and ninth innings to seal the victory.

Sam Wong (2-0), making his first start in a month, allowed one run over five innings to pick up the victory. Dawson Day tossed two scoreless innings before handing the ball to McCord to wrap up the game.

After the Pippins scored a run in the first inning, they took a 1-0 lead into the fourth, but the Sox tied and took the lead that inning. Sage led off with his first double of the game and scored three batters later on a double by Schwartz. Spellacy singled to center to give the Sox a 2-1 lead, a lead they would hang on to for the rest of the game.

It was “déjà vu all over again,” as Yogi Berra would say, in the sixth inning. Schwartz again doubled in a run, this time McCord after he singled with one out. Spellacy again drove in Schwartz with a single and it was 4-1, AppleSox after five-and-a-half innings.

Williams led off the eighth first-pitch swinging with a home run off the scoreboard in left to pad the lead. In the ninth, McCord drove in Sage after he double with two outs. Williams walked, then he and McCord scored on an RBI triple by Schwartz off the right-field wall.

All but one of the AppleSox nine runs came across with two outs in the inning. Dating back to Thursday against Portland, 10 of the Sox’ last 13 runs scored have all come with two outs.

The rubber match between the Sox and the Pippins takes place tonight at 6:35 p.m. in Yakima.

Full boxscore: http://pointstreak.com/baseball/boxscore.html?gameid=476955