APPLESOX UPENDED, GRESHAM COMES FROM BEHIND TO STEAL GAME THREE

WENATCHEE, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (9-9) couldn’t hold a 6-2 lead in the late innings, Monday night against the Gresham GreyWolves (7-11), and eventually fell 7-6 at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.

Despite a strong start for McKabe Cottrell, the AppleSox gave up too many free bases down the stretch, and were unable to save a victory for their freshman left-hander. Cottrell went 6 2/3 and left in the seventh inning with the bases loaded.

In the tough spot, Jalen Garcia (0-1) entered, and Gresham plated all three runs off of him on a wild pitch and 2-RBI single. The AppleSox couldn’t hold on in the ninth inning when Garcia left with one out and runners on first and second base. Reliever Cameron Kurz was unable to nail down a save, as a passed ball and wild pitch immediately plated the tying run. A sacrifice fly put Gresham up for good, 7-6.

Wenatchee fell behind 2-0 in the fourth inning, but responded with a five-run home half, including a 2-RBI single for Michael Spellacy in his offensive debut, and a three-run home run to left field for Tanner Williams, in his final AppleSox game.

All five runs came unearned, after a would-be inning-ending error on the GreyWolves. The AppleSox got their sixth run, in the sixth on an RBI single from Dugan Shirer.

Wenatchee has a day off, Tuesday, for the first time in the opening 18 games. Then, the AppleSox will head south to Gresham to play the GreyWolves in three more games, starting at 6:35 p.m., Wednesday.