SOX LOOK TO GET HOT, FACE SWEETS ON ROAD

APPLESOX (10-13)

v.s.

Walla Walla Sweets (15-12)

Borleske Stadium

July 6-8

After playing 13 of their previous 16 games at home, the Wenatchee AppleSox travel away from Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium to face the Walla Walla Sweets.

As the temperatures begin to hike across north-central Washington, so too do the AppleSox look to heat up. The Sox, winners of three of their last four, just wrapped up a seven-game homestand play on the road for the first time since June 22-24.

They will do so against the Sweets for the final three games between the two teams this season.

Probable Pitchers

Friday

AppleSox: Michael Spellacy (1-0, 2.81 ERA)

Sweets: Sean Sullivan (0-0, 4.97 ERA)

Saturday

AppleSox: Connor McCord (1-2, 9.00 ERA)

Sweets: Darius Vines (2-0, 0.00 ERA)

Sunday

AppleSox: Curtis Bafus (3-2, 3.33 ERA)

Sweets: Bryce Moyle (1-2, 3.62 ERA)

Last Game

Wednesday night, the AppleSox won their third West Coast League series of the season by defeating the Yakima Valley Pippins 5-2.

Hunter Boyd allowed two runs, one earned, over six innings to pick up his second win and the first league series-victory at home for the Sox. Dawson Day struck out six in three scoreless innings to earn his first save of the summer.

At the plate, Johnny Sage recorded his third consecutive multi-hit game with a 2-for-4 performance. Sage drove in a team-high four runs over the course of the three-game series. He enters this weekend fifth in the West Coast League with a .429 on-base percentage.

Last Time They Met

The Sweets came to Wenatchee and took two-of-three from the Sox from June 19-21 at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.

The Sox struggled defensively, committing a combined five errors in the three games. Offensively, the hit .205 against Walla Walla.

Sweets outfielder Ryan Johnston pestered the Sox all series, posting a team-high .533 on-base percentage. He walked three times in the series opener and then went 2-for-4 in both subsequent games.

Lots of Rest

Thursday’s off-day was the sixth of 10 scheduled off-days this season. Including the three games that were postponed due to rain in Portland from June 8-10, the AppleSox have now had nine days without games this season. Compare that to eight scheduled days off a year ago.

Meyer Continues Strong Mid-Season Work

Cory Meyer’s team-high six-game hitting streak ended in Wednesday’s extra-inning loss, but he still had a productive night and carries an impressive streak into this weekend.

The Boise State commit drove in his team-leading 15th RBI with a sacrifice fly in the fourth and walked twice to reach base safely for the 12th consecutive game. Meyer is also tied for the team lead with two home runs this summer.

First-Inning Strikes

In two of the three games against Yakima Valley, the AppleSox scored in the first inning. In both of those games, they picked up the victory. The Sox have scored 20 runs in the first inning, their most of any inning this season.

However, early scoring has not always been a precursor for success this season. The Sox are 8-7 when scoring before their opponent, but are 3-6 when scoring in the first inning against league opponents.  

On the Mend

Jordan Rathbone, who was injured on June 30 in a non-league game with the Northwest Star Academy, is listed as day-to-day with a left-hand injury. Rathbone was struck with by a swinging bat during an at-bat to lead off the top of the third inning. He immediately left the game and has not played since.