The Bellingham Bells lost 8-3 to the Wenatchee AppleSox Tuesday, June 24 at Joe Martin Field in Bellingham, Wash. The AppleSox tallied 13 hits and handed the Bells their third-straight loss to begin the three-game series.

Cal Young made his fourth start and immediately had two runners in scoring position against him after a walk and a double to begin the game. A controversial balk was called and the first run of the game scored for Wenatchee. The AppleSox scored one more run, taking a 2-0 lead after the first.

Bellingham was able to answer with a one-run first inning when Blake Balsz made his debut by knocking in a run on a base hit to center field.

With two outs in the second inning, Kaden Smith hit a ground ball to Bobby Pierce Jr. that resulted in an error and scored the third run of the game.

The AppleSox scored one more run off the Bells starter in the fourth inning and Young finished his start with seven hits allowed for four runs with four strikeouts. Will Franklin entered in the fifth and immediately shut down Wenatchee with a 1-2-3 inning.

In the top of the sixth, the AppleSox tagged Franklin for one run after a leadoff double. Wenatchee had five extra-base hits in the game and was making lots of hard contact tonight.

The Bells scored one in the bottom of the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Nate Kirkpatrick to trail 5-2. Caleb Cassie pitched a 1-2-3 seventh inning and Bellingham chipped away another run on Andrew Lamb’s RBI double in the bottom of the seventh.

Hayden George made his home debut and struck out two but gave up two walks forcing Chase Halvorson to enter the game with two outs in the eighth. Halvorson finished the inning with a strikeout on a pitch clock violation.

Wenatchee rallied five straight hits to begin the ninth and scored three runs to take a commanding 8-3 lead with three outs to go. Bellingham couldn’t complete the comeback as Jace Taylor earned the six-out save.

Lamb led the bells going 2-for-3 at the plate with a double, two walks, two runs scored, a steal and an RBI. Balsz was 1-for-3 in his debut with an RBI, a walk and a stolen base.

The Bells (14-8) have lost their last three while the AppleSox (12-7) snapped a three-game losing streak. Bellingham has a half game lead on Wenatchee and Edmonton for first place in the North Division.

Tomorrow night the Bells look to bounce back with a 6:35 p.m. first pitch scheduled at Joe Martin Field. Devyn Hernandez is set to start for Bellingham with Luke Sterkel going for Wenatchee.

Tonight’s game recap is presented by Everstrong Physical Therapy and Performance.