APPLESOX COME BACK, SWEEP SERIES WITH LATE RUNS

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The AppleSox swept their first series since July 2-4, 2015, Thursday night at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium. Evan Johnson drove in 8 of the team's 25 runs in the series.

The AppleSox swept their first series since July 2-4, 2015, Thursday night at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium. Evan Johnson drove in 8 of the team's 25 runs in the series.

WENATCHEE, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (14-10) rallied from down 7-4 to beat the Port Angeles Lefties (9-16), 8-7 in the team’s first series sweep since 2015 at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium, Thursday.

Evan Johnson drove in the game-winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning on a double to the left-center field gap. It was his WCL-leading 34th RBI of the season, and followed a walk of Jack Reisinger, pinch run first-to-third baserunning from Jordan Prendiz on a Jacob Prater single, and a Dugan Shirer sacrifice fly that tied the game at 7.

Both the tying and winning runs were scored off of Port Angeles’ Garrett Smith (0-2).

Wenatchee also scored two in the seventh to trim a 7-4 deficit. One run scored on a bases-loaded double play, and another came home on a throwing error, E2, to try and catch Jake Taylor stealing second base with two outs.

The AppleSox had the chance to score late thanks to another two hitless innings of relief from Connor Leedholm (1-0). The senior has thrown 10 relief innings this summer without allowing a hit.

He got the fina out on a game-ending 1-6-3 souble play that grazed him on the mound and was re-directed to shortstop Michael Spellacy. Leedholm’s eighth inning was a 1-2-3 frame that included back-to-back strikeouts.

Hunter Boyd ended up with a strong seven innings, despite surrendering five runs in the second inning, including a grand slam to Seth Freed.

Freed also teed off for an RBI double in the fourth. Brody Kato also drove in a run in that frame to make it 7-4, Lefties.

After the fourth, Boyd fired three scoreless innings and retired eight of the nine batters to face him. He only allowed a walk in the seventh inning, but erased it on a 6-4-3 double play that started on a glove flip from Spellacy to Prater.

Port Angeles starter Keiran Shaw (no-decision) was strong. He allowed two runs in the first to the AppleSox on a 2-RBI double for Adrian Damla. Damla also singled home a run in the third, before a Taylor RBI double that made it 5-4, Lefties.

The AppleSox were held scoreless in the middle three innings on no hits from Shaw.

Wenatchee’s sweep was the first for the AppleSox this season, and first since July 2-4, 2015 in a home series sweep over the Klamath Falls Gems. Thursday’s win also marked the fourth-straight in league play for the AppleSox. It is now the team’s longest winning streak of the season.

Wenatchee sits one game out of first place in the WCL North, with three first-half games remaining in league play.

The AppleSox are home Friday and Saturday to face the River City Athletics in non-league action. Both games start at 7:05 p.m., and Saturday night is Fireworks Night, presented by Numerica Credit Union.