AppleSox Face Lefties In Independence Day Matchup
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The Wenatchee AppleSox are back on the road after a quick stop home on Monday as they face the Port Angeles Lefties tonight at 7:15 at Civic Field. This is the second series between the AppleSox and the Lefties in the last week after Wenatchee took two-of-three from Port Angeles last week at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.
Tonight’s game is the first game of the AppleSox’ final three-game series of the first half of the 2023 season. At the conclusion of Wenatchee’s 27th game on Thursday a division winner for the first half will be decided. Wenatchee sits in first place in the North with an 18-6 record and is one game ahead of Bellingham. The AppleSox control their own destiny when it comes to clinching the North Division. Three AppleSox wins this week automatically clinch a playoff berth but Wenatchee can also clinch a playoff berth with just two wins even if Bellingham wins all three games as long as Wenatchee has a better run differential than Bellingham at the end of gameplay on Thursday. The AppleSox can also clinch with just one win if the Bells only take two of three games and Wenatchee, again, has a better run differential than Bellingham at the end of gameplay on Thursday.. The Victoria HarbourCats have already completed the first half with a 19-9 record and are automatically eliminated from winning the first half if Wenatchee wins once. The AppleSox hold the tiebreaker over the HarbourCats by virtue of sweeping them June 7-9.
The AppleSox are rolling in league play with six consecutive series victories. Wenatchee took two-of-three against the Edmonton Riverhawks over the weekend at RE/MAX Field thanks to two offensive outburst on Friday and Sunday. The AppleSox scored four-or-more runs in an inning three times, including putting up an eight-spot in the top of the third on Sunday. Nick Putnam led the way in that inning and the game with 4 RBI via a bases-clearing double in the third before hitting another RBI double in the ninth.
The weekend’s 26-run outburst came on the heels of scoring a combined five runs in three games against the Lefties last week. Wenatchee hit .186 (16-for-86) in the three games, including .147 with runners in scoring position. The struggles at the plate largely did not matter thanks to the AppleSox’ pitching staff, which shut out the Lefties last Thursday in a 1-0 series-clinching win. Wenatchee’s three shutout victories lead the West Coast League and its 3.10 ERA is fifth-best out of 16 teams.
In between their stop in Wenatchee and this series the Lefties were swept by the Nanaimo NightOwls at Serauxmen Stadium. Port Angeles is on a five-game losing streak and has scored 11 runs in that time. The Lefties are a league-worst 3-9 at home and have lost their last three home games after being swept by Kelowna June 23-25.
Garrett Gores tosses for Wenatchee looking to get in the win column in his final start of the summer. The AppleSox have won half of the four games that Gores has started but he has been on the hook for the loss in each of the last two. The Gonzaga commit pitched strong in his last outing, allowing three runs over five innings last Tuesday against Port Angeles but the AppleSox lost, 3-1. Gores is 0-2 with a 5.40 ERA, 15 strikeouts, four walks and 20 hits over 20 innings. Tonight will be his 15th appearance on the mound in his second summer with the AppleSox.
Gores is opposed by Drew Standen. He earned the victory against the AppleSox in the game that Gores pitched in last week, only allowing one run on three hits over five innings. Standen struck out nine, one off his single-game high set on June 9 vs. Springfield. He is 1-3 with a 4.50 ERA, 37 strikeouts, seven walks and 16 hits over 22 innings.
Fans can tune in to the action tonight and all season long on KCSY Sunny FM. Pregame coverage presented by Kenady Real Estate Group begins at 6:10 p.m. You can listen online worldwide at kcsyfm.com, the TuneIn radio app or on one of the following translators.
93.9 FM in Wenatchee
95.3 FM in the Lake Chelan Valley
97.7 FMin Omak, Riverside, Tonasket and Oroville
98.1 FM in East Wenatchee, Rock Island and Quincy
101.3 FM in Brewster and Pateros
106.3 FM in the Methow Valley
All West Coast League games can also be watched on wcleague.watch.pixellot.tv.
