EVERETT – Edward Paredes has been the Everett AquaSox’s Mr. Reliable. Like clockwork, Paredes has taken the mound every five days and given the Sox a chance to win.
But even the most reliable of engines needs the occasional fine tuning, and Paredes is no exception.
Paredes fought his control in his worst start of the season, and the AquaSox fell 6-3 in Game 1 of their doubleheader against the Boise Hawks on Saturday night at Everett Memorial Stadium.
Game 2 was not complete when The Herald went to press. Both games were shortened to seven innings because of time constraints.
Playing underneath overcast skies that threatened a second consecutive night of rainouts, Boise took advantage of Paredes wildness early to take control of the game.
Ty Wright and Josh Donaldson each had two hits to lead the Hawks. Zachary Ashwood earned the win with 22/3 innings of scoreless relief.
Joe Dunigan provided the bulk of Everett’s offense with a two-run double.
Paredes came into the game with an impressive resume. The left-hander from the Dominican Republic had gone at least six innings in five of his six starts this season, had yet to surrender more than two earned runs in any start and ranked third in the Northwest League for earned run average (1.85).
However, if Paredes has had one weakness, it’s been walks – 16 in 34 innings coming into the night. And with Paredes struggling to locate his breaking ball, those walks reared their ugly heads Saturday. Paredes walked two of the game’s first three batters, both of which came around to score, and finished with four walks in 32/3 innings. He also allowed six hits, leading to six runs – five earned. He struck out three as his record dropped to 3-2.
Boise starter Arik Hempy didn’t fare much better. He also had control issues, walking three in 21/3 inning. However, the lefty was rescued by his bullpen – specifically Ashwood – and the damage was limited to three runs.
Chris Siegfried finished the game with two scoreless innings to earn his third save.
Paredes had all kinds of trouble in the top of the first as the Hawks loaded the bases with nobody out – two walks sandwiching a single. Wright grounded an RBI single to right to open the scoring. A run-scoring double play lessened the threat, but third baseman Deybis Benitez’s throwing error allowed another run to score and Boise went ahead 3-0.
The Hawks tacked on two more runs in the third. Donaldson lined a two-out gapper to left-center, scoring Ty Wright all the way from first. Mario Mercedes followed by rolling a single up the middle, plating Donaldson and stretching Boise’s lead to 5-0.
Everett got back into the game in the bottom of the third. With runners on first and second and one out, Dunigan lashed a grounder into the left-field corner. Gregory Halman scored easily from second, but the Hawks had Manelik Pimentel dead to rights. However, catcher Donaldson dropped the ball to allow Pimentel to score. One out later Roberto Mena smacked an RBI single to right – doubling his hit total for the season – to cut the Frogs’ deficit to 5-3.
But Paredes got into more trouble in the fourth. After two quick outs he gave up a single and two more walks, prompting his removal. Then reliever Keith Meyer’s first pitch sailed to the backstop, allowing Thomas to score from third to make it 6-3.
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