AppleSox Look For Fourth Straight Series Victory On Fireworks Night
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The Wenatchee AppleSox continue the holiday weekend by facing the Bend Elks at 7:05 p.m. on Fireworks Night presented by Numerica Credit Union.
The AppleSox are rolling offensively and looking to add to it tonight in the penultimate game of the first half. Wenatchee has scored 64 runs in the last six games for an average of just over 10.5-runs per game and has won five-of-the-last-six games. They have hit nine in the last seven games after going nine straight games without a home run. This recent surge represents 69-percent of the AppleSox’ season total of 13.
The long ball was a huge part of last night’s victory as the AppleSox smacked three home runs in a 14-3 win over the Elks. Luc Stuka led off the second inning with his first of the season while Brandham Ponce and CJ Horn each hit their third of the year in a seven-run sixth inning. The AppleSox also scored four runs in the fifth inning and have now scored four-or-more runs in an inning 17 times this season including four times in the last four games.
Wenatchee cannot capture a first-half playoff spot because the Bellingham Bells have already clinched it. If the season ended today, then the AppleSox would make the playoffs as the third seed and face the Kamloops NorthPaws in the North Division Series. Wenatchee sits 1.5 games back of Kamloops for second place and having home-field advantage in the first round.
Jack Moffitt makes his team-leading fifth start of the summer tonight. The right-hander from Gonzaga is coming off his first victory of the season when he allowed two runs in 4.1 innings last Saturday against the Edmonton Riverhawks. Moffitt struck out two, walked two and allowed six hits in the win.
This is the second time that he will face Bend this season. Moffitt fired four scoreless innings against the Elks at Vince Genna Stadium on June 5 but picked up a no decision. He struck out five, walked five and allowed three hits while also stranding the bases loaded twice. Moffitt is 1-1 this summer with a 4.90 ERA. In 14.2 innings he has struck out 13, walked 13 and allowed 16 hits.
Cole Wilkinson faces the AppleSox for the second time this summer and fifth time in his career. The lefty from Linn-Benton has pitched against Wenatchee in each of the last three West Coast League seasons and has a 4.38 ERA over 12.1 innings in four games against the Sox. His best appearance versus Wenatchee came on Aug. 11, 2019, when he tossed six shutout innings to pick up the victory for the Corvallis Knights in the regular-season finale.
Wilkinson started for the Elks on Opening Night, June 3, but allowed eight runs (six earned) on seven hits, three walks and two strikeouts in 3.1 innings. He is 2-0 with a 4.57 ERA in four games (all starts) this summer. In 19.2 innings Wilkinson has struck out 14, walked five, and allowed 17 hits. He allowed three runs in six innings last Saturday to earn the victory in Bend’s 10-8 win over Cowlitz.
Premium seating is nearly sold out for tonight’s game but general admission tickets remain available for purchase. Fans are encouraged to beat the long lines at the gate by purchasing their tickets in advance at saferseating.com and by arriving at the park as early as possible. Gates open at 6 p.m.
Tonight’s game can be listened to live on kcsyfm.com on your computer or smart phone. If you live in Washington you can listen on your radio on any of the following stations:
· Wenatchee: 93.9 FM
· East Wenatchee/Rock Island: 98.1 FM
· Lake Chelan Valley: 95.3 FM
· Brewster/Pateros: 101.3 FM
· Okanogan Valley: 101.9 FM
· Omak/Tonasket/Oroville: 97.7 FM
· Methow Valley: 106.3 FM
Coverage of tonight’s game begins at 6:10 p.m. with the Horan Estates Winery Pregame Show. Stick around after the game to hear the postgame show with player and coach interviews.
