Pippins Shut Out by AppleSox

After scoring just three runs over the weekend, the Pippins offense continued to struggle, getting shutout by the Wenatchee AppleSox on Monday, 4-0.

The Pippins had a chance to take an early lead in the first. After two quick outs, Kyle Dean hit a deep triple off the wall in right field, but he would be stranded at third base.

Jack Gonzales was making his first league start of the season and the AppleSox offense would get off to a quick start in the first inning. After a strikeout of the leadoff batter, Gonzales walked Mason Marenco. John Sage and Connor McCord followed with back to back singles to score the first run of the inning. Gonzales would then hit Jacob Prater which loaded the bases. Corey Meyer then shot a ball into left field, driving in two runs. Later in the inning, a pass ball with two outs would score Prater from third and stake the AppleSox to a 4-0 lead. That was all they would need.

Gonzales would settle down after the first inning, retiring nine of the next eleven batters that he faced. With two outs in the fifth, Marenco hit a triple to knock Gonzales out of the game. Chase Farrell would come out of the bullpen and get out of the inning.

The Pippins had opportunities to mount a comeback but the big hit proved elusive. After the first inning, the Pippins left a runner in scoring position in five of the eight innings. In the fourth, Jake Moberg hit a two out triple to left field but was stranded at third base. AppleSox starter Curtis Bafus threw six scoreless innings, picking up eight strikeouts along the way.

Pippins pitching was able to hold down Wenatchee to give the offense a chance to score. After the first inning, Gonzales, Farrell and Matt Driver threw seven scoreless innings, allowing just five hits.

In the ninth, the Pippins had one more chance to make a comeback, the first two batters of the inning reached. Moberg hit a leadoff single and pinch hitter Bryce Wooldridge followed with a walk. After a wild pitch moved them into second and third, Troy Stainbrook struck out the next three batters to end the game.

The Pippins have lost four in a row overall and have lost seven straight road games. The second game of the series is on Tuesday. First pitch at 7:05.