Wenatchee blanks Kelowna behind Sandvik’s six scoreless innings

WENATCHEE — Blake Sandvik tossed six shutout innings and struck out seven as the Wenatchee AppleSox defeated the Kelowna Falcons 13-0 Tuesday night at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.

The AppleSox improved to 3-1 on the season with their second shutout win in which they scored 10 or more runs. It was also the third consecutive game the Wenatchee offense reached double digits in runs scored.

Noah Fields opened the scoring with a two-run home run in the first inning and finished the game 1-for-3 with three RBI. Cade Martinez went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI. Quincy Malbrough added a pair of hits, including a double, and scored twice. Jake Sanko recorded two RBI singles as part of a balanced team effort at the plate.

The AppleSox broke the game open in the fourth inning, sending 11 batters to the plate. Reid Graham sparked the rally with a one-out walk on a 3-1 pitch. After Owen Firestone was hit by a pitch and Malbrough singled to load the bases, Brady Bean drew an RBI walk. Jack Barker’s groundout plated another run before Jack McWilliams tripled home two runs. Sanko followed with an RBI single to give Wenatchee an 8-0 lead.

In the fifth, Malbrough scored on a wild pitch and Fields added his third RBI on a sacrifice fly to extend the lead to 10-0.

Wenatchee tacked on three more in the seventh, highlighted by another Sanko RBI single and a two-run double from Martinez.

The AppleSox bullpen preserved the shutout. Gunnar Penzkover struck out one batter, Luke Sterkel fanned two, and Joe Schuyleman closed the game with a perfect ninth inning, striking out two of the three batters he faced.

Kelowna dropped to 0-4 on the season.

The series continues Wednesday night at 6:35 p.m. at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.