Pippins Spoil Sox Road Opener

Courtesy of AppleSox Communications

YAKIMA, Wash. – The Yakima Valley Pippins (1-0, 1-0) brought baseball back to the city of Yakima on Friday night, and they did so by posting a 4-3 victory over the Wenatchee AppleSox (2-1, 0-1).

Wenatchee jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning of Friday’s game and would later reclaim a 2-1 advantage after the Pippins tied things in the second. Ultimately, a three run fourth inning for the Pippins ended up being the difference in the final tally of the two teams’ WCL-opener.

The AppleSox had a chance to mount a comeback on the Pippins, when Mitch Yada walked the bases loaded with nobody out in the eighth. Pippins manager Marcus McKimmy went to the bullpen and called on sophomore right-hander Connor Lau, who rose to the occasion, limiting the AppleSox to one run on a Trenton Brooks sacrifice fly.

Lau retired the AppleSox in the ninth after striking out the first two hitters he faced. Caleb Wood singled through the right side and Tanner Nishioka walked, however, the Sox couldn’t quite complete the comeback bid.

Saturday, Wenatchee will look to even the series as they place Hunter Wells up on the hill to face Andrew Woods at 7:05pm at Yakima County Stadium.

WEN   1 0 1   0 0 0   0 1 0    3   4   1 

YAK    0 1 0   3 0 0   0 0 X   4   6   1

WP – Reed Garrett

LP – Tom Zarosinski

S – Connor Lau