Hot Start Not Enough As Sox Drop Series Finale
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The Wenatchee AppleSox took a 6-1 lead into the sixth inning but fell to the Corvallis Knights, 7-6, on Sunday night at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.
Tino Bethancourt hit his fourth home run of the season, Adam Grob drove in two and Cam Liss struck out eight, but Wenatchee could not overcome a late rally by the Knights and dropped all three games this weekend.
Liss exited following the fifth inning after only allowing one unearned run and matching the most strikeouts thrown by an AppleSox pitcher in a start. A 2-RBI single in the sixth and then a three-run homer in the seventh against two different AppleSox relievers tied the game, then the Knights scratched across the game-winning run in the ninth on two singles and an error.
The AppleSox had an opportunity to tie it when they loaded up the bases with one out but back-to-back hitters struck out to end the game.
Bethancourt launched a two-run shot for his team-leading fourth home run of the season after Collin Villegas double to begin the second inning. Michael O’Hara drove in another run with an RBI single and then Grob grounded out to first to bring in the fourth run of the inning.
The AppleSox weren’t finished yet and recorded another multi-run inning in the fourth. O’Hara picked up his third hit of the night with a single and scored on a double by Grob, who would then score on a single by Luc Stuka.
The AppleSox struggled at the plate the rest of the way, only collecting two hits over the final five innings after getting 10 in the first four.
Chase Grillo suffered the tough-luck loss after firing two innings and allowing an unearned run to score in the ninth. He struck out the side in the eighth and finished one pitch away from tossing an immaculate inning.
The AppleSox are off Monday but head to Bellingham to face the Bells Tuesday through Thursday at Joe Martin Field. First pitch all three nights is at 6:35.
