SOX GET FIRST HOME SWEEP SINCE 2013

The last time the AppleSox got a sweep at home was Aug. 5-7, 2013 against the Victoria HarbourCats.

WENATCHEE, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (7-6, 4-5) swept the Medford Rogues (5-7, 5-7), with a 3-2 win, Wednesday night. It was the first sweep at home for the AppleSox since August 5-7, 2013.

Mitchell Holland drove in his fourth run of the season in the fourth inning off of Rogues starter, Max Bethel (0-1). The RBI single for Holland, brought home Ryan Crowe and Wenatchee was on top.

Holland helped Joey Jansen around in the third inning on a hard-hit ball to third base that was ruled to get past John Kinne, due to a fielding error. Wenatchee led 2-0.

Zach Haggett (1-0), was brilliant from the start, Wednesday. He retired the first twelve men he faced, in order. Medford had a scoring chance in the fifth on their first hit, a double to center field, from Bily Fredrick, however, a strong relay throw for Keaton Smith brought catcher Ryan Crowe up the third base line, in time to collide with the runner Andrew Martinez, who was out on the play.

Rogues manager Josh Hogan was ejected arguing the call.

The AppleSox, meanwhile, had a 3-0 lead thanks to a fielder’s choice RBI in the fourth, credited to Jansen.

Medford cracked the board in the sixth with a  moon shot solo home run to right field, for Jimmy Wright. It was the first Medford home run on the season not hit by Dan Mayer or Nathan Etheridge, and it marked the team’s seventh round-tripper. Medford added one more run in the inning to make it 3-2.

The AppleSox pitching staff then had to fight the rest of the way. Haggett got out of a bases loaded jam in the top of the seventh with one out. He forced an infield fly popout for Jimmy Wright, and then got Brock Pradere to strike out swinging.

In the eighth, Kyle Blankenship tossed a scoreless frame for the AppleSox, after walking a runner aboard and hitting a Rogue batter in the head with an errant fastball. The player, Martinez, was ok and able to stay in the game. Blankeship worked out of the inning with a strikeout of Chris DeVito.

Sean Sparling earned his first save of the summer, after he struck out Pradere again in the ninth inning to win the game and deliver the sweep for the AppleSox. Dan Mayer, who pinch hit in the inning, was left on base.

The AppleSox have a well-deserved off day Thursday, and travel to Bellingham, Friday, to take on the Bells in a weekend set. Chris Carns will make his AppleSox debut on the mound, Friday at 7:05 p.m. at Joe Martin Field.

WP: Zach Haggett (1-1)
LP: Max Bethel (0-1)
S: Sean Sparling (1)