Three big innings propel AppleSox to victory over Pippins

WENATCHEE -- The Wenatchee AppleSox capitalized on three high-scoring innings to secure a 9-2 victory against the Yakima Valley Pippins on Friday night at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.

The AppleSox (24-13, 6-4 second half) were led by a potent offensive display from their 2-3-4 hitters. Max Hartman, Aidan Dougherty, and Evan Cloyd combined for six RBIs and four runs scored. Hartman contributed two doubles and two walks, while Dougherty drove in four runs on three hits and stole his team-leading 15th base. Cloyd added a home run in the first inning and an RBI double in the third.

David James (4-0) earned the win with a strong relief performance, tying Carson Boesel for the team lead in victories. James pitched 2.2 scoreless innings, allowing no hits and striking out one.

The decisive moment came in the bottom of the third inning when the AppleSox broke a 2-2 tie with a five-run outburst. Cam Hoiland ignited the rally with a leadoff double, one of his three hits on the night. The inning featured RBI hits from Dougherty, Cloyd, and Jonathan Fitz, with Hoiland capping off the scoring as the tenth batter of the frame.

Wenatchee struck first in the opening inning when Hartman doubled and scored on a Dougherty groundout, followed by Cloyd's opposite-field home run. Yakima Valley responded with two runs in the top of the second, but their offense was silenced for the remainder of the game.

The AppleSox added insurance runs in the eighth inning on Dougherty's two-out, two-run single. His stolen base in the sixth inning was his 15th of the season, tying him with Enzo Apodaca (2021) for eighth-most in a single summer in AppleSox history.

The series continues Saturday night with All-Star right-hander Garrett Ahern taking the mound for Wenatchee. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.