APPLESOX TRY FOR LATE COMEBACK, FALL JUST SHORT IN GAME ONE AT YAKIMA

YAKIMA, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (21-16, 6-4 second half) dropped game one 5-4 at the Yakima Valley Pippins (18-19, 5-5), despite mounting a late ninth-inning rally, Wednesday night at County Stadium.

Both starting pitchers worked quickly in the series-opener. Taylor Dollard (5-0) lasted 6.2 innings, for his longest outing of the season. With his victory, he also tied AppleSox starter Collin Maier for most wins in the WCL.

Dollard gave up no runs in the first five innings on just two AppleSox hits. Boyd (3-2) was also mostly dominant for the AppleSox, but did allow two home runs. The first, in the second inning, was a 2-run shot for Dustin Yates. The second, in the third inning, was a leadoff solo home run for Lucas Denney.

Wenatchee plated two unearned off of Dollard in the sixth inning, on an error at shortstop, following a Jacob Prater hit by pitch and Evan Johnson double.

Michael Spellacy pitched two innings of relief, and after a 1-2-3 seventh, he gave up two runs in the eighth on a pinch-hit 2-RBI single for Dillon Plew. The hit gave Yakima Valley a 5-2 lead.

The insurance runs proved pivotal in the ninth, when William Adair was trying to nail down his first save of the season.

After retiring six-straight out of the bullpen, including the leadoff man in the ninth, The AppleSox used a walk of Jalen Garcia and a single for Adrian Damla to put two aboard. A fly ball for the second out moved Garcia to third base.

Jack Reisinger and Spellacy each followed with clutch 2-out singles to cut the deficit to one at 5-4, and put the tying run (pinch runner, Jordan Prendiz) at third base.

Dugan Shirer popped out to second base, and Yakima Valley was just able to hold on for the 5-4 win.

Wenatchee plays game two at Yakima Valley, Thursday night. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at County Stadium, and Connor McCord will get the start for Wenatchee.