Cole Hatton struck out a season-best seven hitters but the Wenatchee AppleSox lost, 6-4, to the Bellingham Bells on Tuesday night at Joe Martin Field.

Hatton finished one out away from tossing five innings in a start for the first time this summer but exited with two outs in the fifth. Two of the four runs that he allowed were unearned.

The AppleSox loaded up the bases in two different innings and collected all four of their runs from those chances, but none of their runs came in on base hits. Two walks with the bases loaded plated two-of-their-three runs in the fifth and they hit into double plays twice with the bases loaded to bring in a run. The AppleSox drew nine walks but only collected three hits.

Bellingham answered Wenatchee first run scored via a double play ball by plating two in the bottom of the third. They tied the game up in the bottom of the fifth with two runs after the AppleSox scored three in the top of the inning. In the sixth, a two-out solo home run gave the Bells the lead for good. The only run that they scored with less than two outs came in the ninth.

The AppleSox look to bounce back on Wednesday night when they send Logan Mercado to the rubber. He is coming off tossing five innings and striking out eight in last Wednesday’s win over the Port Angeles Lefties.

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