AppleSox stumble in 8-4 loss to Lefties

PORT ANGELES, Wash.  - The Wenatchee AppleSox suffered their first loss of the 2024 season on Wednesday night, falling 8-4 to the Port Angeles Lefties at Civic Field despite a perfect night at the plate from Joe Scheffler.

Scheffler, batting ninth in the order, went 4-for-4 with four singles, but it wasn't enough to overcome the AppleSox's defensive struggles. Wenatchee committed four errors for the second straight game and surrendered five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, relinquishing a 4-3 lead.

The AppleSox had previously held a 3-1 advantage but were unable to maintain it. Wenatchee's pitching staff struggled with control, issuing eight walks throughout the game, including three in the decisive sixth inning.

Wenatchee briefly regained the lead in the top of the sixth, scoring on a bases-loaded walk to make it 4-3. Their other runs came in the fourth inning, courtesy of a two-run double by Fred Buckson and an RBI single by Scheffler in the ninth.

The Lefties initially tied the game in the bottom of the third on a two-out double, then capitalized on a potential double-play grounder that got through the infield, plating two more runs.

Braiden Boyd provided a bright spot for the AppleSox, tossing 2.1 scoreless innings in relief.

The AppleSox, now 4-1 on the season, will look to bounce back in the rubber match against the Lefties on Thursday night at Civic Field. Matthew DelVecchio, who fired 3.2 innings last Saturday, is expected to make his second start of the summer.