AppleSox Can't Lock Down Sweep, Win Series

The AppleSox have won 4 of their last 5 home games, but fell Sunday, while still winning the weekend series, two games to one. 

WENATCHEE, Wash. - The Wenatchee AppleSox (22-24, 19-23) couldn't quite secure a series sweep against the Yakima Valley Pippins (24-20, 22-20), who rallied late to salvage a game on weekend, in a 3-1 series finale, Sunday at Paul Thomas Sr. Field. 

Both pitchers were dialed in Sunday, with the game scoreless through the top half of the fourth. 

Zach Wolf tossed three no-hit innings to start the night for Yakima Valley, and Gage Burland (2-2) scattered three hits through the first four innings. 

Wenatchee got on the board in the bottom of the fourth with back-to-back doubles from Jake Hirabayashi and Keston Hiura, which put the AppleSox ahead 1-0. Hiura extended his consecutive games reaching base streak to 29 games, two of the WCL high for the season. 

Burland continued to hold the Pippins off the board through the sixth, and entered the seventh on 85 pitches. Yakima Valley scored two runs off of him with two singles to open the frame, and a sacrifice placed the runners in position for a 2-RBI single and a 2-1 lead. 

Yakima Valley added one more in the eighth on an error at third, unearned off of Sean Sparling. 

Wyatt Mills got the save for the Pippins, after allowing only a walk in the ninth. It was Mills' eighth save of the season, which leads the WCL East and is second in the WCL. 

The AppleSox have Monday night off and return to action, Tuesday at Kelowna in British Columbia. First pitch is at 6:35 p.m., and Zach Haggett will start for the Sox. 

WP:  Josh Nashed (4-2)
LP: Gage Burland (2-2)
S: Wyatt Mills (8)