AppleSox Rally Late to Top HarbourCats

WENATCHEE, WA - The AppleSox won a spirited back-and-forth game, 7-4, against the Victoria HarbourCats to win their first West Coast League game of the season on Tuesday night at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.

Ryan Altenberger hit a go-ahead two-run single in the bottom of the seventh inning to lead the AppleSox to a comeback victory. He had another successful day as the Sox’ leadoff batter by reaching base two times and scoring a run. This comes a night after reaching base four times on Monday.

Landon Schirer retired all six batters that he faced and struck out two of them in his two innings of relief. The incoming junior at George Fox picked up the save as a result of his stellar effort.

Every time the HarbourCats scored, the AppleSox had an answer for them. After Victoria struck in the top of the first inning after an AppleSox error, the Sox responded when Altenberger tripled and Sage brought him in with a sacrifice fly.

The HarbourCats took advantage of another Sox error in the fourth, but Wenatchee took the lead in the bottom half of the inning thanks to a three-hit attack. Cole McKenzie singled on the first pitch he saw and then scored two batters later on a Tyler Detloff double. Detloff scored two batter alter when Brett Gillis singled him in and the Sox took a 3-2 lead.

That lead held until the seventh inning when two runs crossed thanks to an error and an RBI single. However, the AppleSox again refused to let the deficit last long. Kody Darcy doubled to lead off the inning and then Brett Gillis and Kodie Kolden singled to load up the bases. With one out, Altenberger singled up the middle to give the Sox a permanent lead.

The AppleSox tacked on two more runs in the eighth inning to pad their lead. Hunter Montgomery reached on an error, was sacrificed to second and scored when Gillis reached on an error. After Kolden doubled to put runners at second and third, Johnny Graham drove in Gillis with an RBI single to right field.

Ryan Long didn’t allow an earned run over six innings, but the AppleSox starter left with a no-decision. Still, despite appearing in a game for the first time since April 21, Long didn’t look like he’d missed a beat, striking out six and only walking one.

The Sox go for the series win Wednesday night as James Kulak gets the ball ahead of the 6:35 game. The first 300 fans to enter the ballpark receive a free AppleSox hat, sponsored by Sunny FM. Gates open at 5:30.

Tonight’s boxscore: http://pointstreak.com/baseball/boxscore.html?gameid=501872