AppleSox Rally Late But Can't Defeat Pippins
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The Wenatchee AppleSox scored four runs in the eighth inning but fell to the Yakima Valley Pippins, 5-4, on Thursday night at Yakima County Stadium.
Jack Moffitt (2-3) struck out five in five innings and allowed three unearned runs in the fifth innings to pick up a tough-luck loss despite matching his longest outing of the summer. Will Jacobson tossed the final three innings and struck out a season-best five hitters.
Wenatchee hit into three double plays, including a game-ending double play with runners at first and second and one out in the top of the ninth inning. The AppleSox loaded up the bases with one out in the third inning before hitting into their first double play of the night in their best chance to take the first lead of the game.
Yakima Valley broke open a scoreless tie with three runs in the fifth and then added two more runs in the sixth thanks to a couple of errors.
Eight hitters came to the plate to get the AppleSox on the board in the eighth and within one run of tying the game up. Xander Orejudos reached on an infield single and a throwing error scored Joichiro Oyama all the way from second base. Grant Sherrod and CJ Horn hit RBI doubles before Steven Meier put down a suicide squeeze bunt to score pinch runner Corey Jarrell from third.
The AppleSox remain tied for first place despite the loss. The Edmonton Riverhawks rallied back from a 3-0 deficit to defeat the Port Angeles Lefties, 6-3, thanks to a five-run top of the ninth inning. Both teams are 13-11 but the AppleSox hold the tiebreaker thanks to winning two-of-three games in the season series between the two squads.
Even with Edmonton tied for first place they are currently slotted as the fourth seed in the postseason because the Kamloops NorthPaws have a better overall record. Wenatchee would host Games 2 and, if necessary, 3 of the North Division Series Semifinals while Kamloops would host Game 1, if the season ended today.
The AppleSox return home on Friday night to face the Walla Walla Sweets for the final series of the regular season. Walla Walla has already been eliminated from the playoffs but took two-of-three games against Wenatchee two weeks ago at Borleske Stadium. Friday night’s game is at 6:35 and is sponsored by Confluence Health. Tickets can be purchased at saferseating.com.
