AppleSox rally falls short in 10-7 loss to Edmonton

EDMONTON, Alberta — The Wenatchee AppleSox erased a five-run deficit but could not complete the comeback Saturday, falling 10-7 to the Edmonton Riverhawks in the second game of the teams' series.

Edmonton out-hit Wenatchee 10-5 and overcame six defensive errors to even the series after the AppleSox won the season opener Friday.

Wenatchee took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. The AppleSox scored on an errant throw to third base before catcher Joseph Coupland added a sacrifice fly.

The lead was short-lived.

AppleSox starter Levi Arnold surrendered six runs on six hits in the bottom of the first inning and was lifted after recording two outs. Jonathan Christner entered in relief and prevented further damage as Edmonton carried a 6-2 lead out of the inning.

The Riverhawks added another run in the fourth when Tony Moore scored after reaching on an error, extending the lead to 7-2.

Wenatchee began its comeback in the fifth. Kainoa Santiago drove in a run with a sacrifice fly, Coupland brought home another run on an error and Sam Moore added an RBI single to cut the deficit to 7-5.

The AppleSox pulled even in the sixth when Nikko Paoletto delivered a two-run single to tie the game at 7-7.

The score remained tied until the seventh inning when Edmonton's Michell Middlemiss lined a double down the right-field line to drive in the go-ahead run.

The Riverhawks added two insurance runs in the eighth. After a pair of leadoff walks, Jaxon Fox hit an RBI double as Edmonton extended its advantage to 10-7.

Right-hander Alan Gonzalez closed out the victory for Edmonton, pitching two scoreless innings while allowing one hit and striking out three. He struck out Max Paterson to end the game.

Paoletto led Wenatchee offensively, going 3 for 4 with two RBIs.

The loss was the first of the season for the AppleSox.

Game 3 of the series, scheduled for Sunday in Edmonton, was postponed because of inclement weather. The game will be made up later in Wenatchee. Details regarding the makeup date and time will be announced when finalized.