Wenatchee stages improbable comeback, beats Port Angeles 6-5 on walks and wild pitches

PORT ANGELES, Wash.  - The Wenatchee AppleSox staged a remarkable comeback in the ninth inning, scoring three runs without the benefit of a hit to defeat the Port Angeles Lefties 6-5 on Tuesday night at Civic Field.

Trailing 5-3 entering the final frame, the AppleSox (4-0) sent all nine batters to the plate, capitalizing on four walks, two wild pitches, a hit batter, and a costly error by the Lefties. Carson Boesel (1-0) earned the win with two scoreless innings in relief, while Stephen Hammergren secured his first save with a perfect ninth.

Max Hartman continued his hot streak, leading off the ninth by reaching on a shortstop's error for his fourth consecutive multi-hit game. Aidan Dougherty and Kade Benavidez followed with a walk and a hit by pitch, respectively, loading the bases with no outs. After a pitching change and an out, a wild pitch brought Hartman home, and Damon Gaither drew a walk to reload the bases. Another wild pitch allowed Dougherty to score the tying run, and Antonio Gianni's walk filled the bases once more. Fred Buckson's two-out, bases-loaded walk ultimately drove in the go-ahead run.

The AppleSox found themselves in an early hole due to two errors in the first inning, which led to a run for the Lefties. Port Angeles added another run in the second on the strength of three hits. Luca Boscarino put Wenatchee on the board with a two-out RBI single in the third.

Wenatchee's defense shone for the second straight day, turning a pair of double plays to escape jams. With the bases loaded and no outs in the third, the AppleSox turned a 6-4-3 double play following a soft popup to second. They repeated the feat in the seventh with a 4-6-3 double play to escape a first-and-third situation.

The Lefties appeared to take control in the sixth, scoring three runs on a two-RBI single and a wild pitch to extend their lead to 5-1. However, Wenatchee responded immediately in the seventh, plating two runs on a wild pitch and an RBI single by Gaither.

With the win, the AppleSox clinched the season series against Port Angeles. They will look to secure a road series victory when the teams meet again on Wednesday at 6:35 p.m.