AppleSox rally falls short in 5-4 loss to Falcons

WENATCHEE — A late rally by the Wenatchee AppleSox came up just short Wednesday night, as the team fell 5-4 to the Kelowna Falcons at Paul Thomas Sr. Field.

The AppleSox (4-2) trailed 5-1 heading into the bottom of the seventh but scored three runs in the frame to pull within one. The surge began when designated hitter Colby Holmdahl and right fielder Brady Bean were each hit by a pitch. A wild pitch advanced both runners before Noah Fields lifted a sacrifice fly to bring home Holmdahl. Another wild pitch allowed Bean to score, trimming Kelowna’s lead to 5-3.

After walks to Jack Barker and Cade Martinez, Jake Sanko doubled home Barker to make it 5-4. Martinez attempted to score on a wild pitch to tie the game, but Kelowna catcher Caden Mitchell fielded the ball cleanly and tagged him at the plate to end the inning.

Wenatchee was unable to muster any offense in the final two innings.

Sanko finished 1-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. Fields went 1-for-4 with an RBI. The AppleSox pitching staff struggled with control, issuing 10 walks. Starter Christian Garcia took the loss after allowing three runs on five walks and one hit over 2.1 innings. He struck out three.

Kelowna (1-5) notched its first win of the season behind reliever Beckett Lund, who earned the victory with 2.2 innings pitched. He allowed two runs on four walks and a hit, striking out four.

With the loss, Wenatchee falls into a three-way tie for second place in the West Coast League’s North Division with Bellingham and Kamloops.

The AppleSox hit the road for the first time this season with a three-game series against the Nanaimo NightOwls. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 1:10 p.m. on Sunday.