EVERETT — If you have ever wondered what the definition of the word beatdown is, the dictionary might say, “see Monday’s Vancouver Canadians-Everett AquaSox game.”
The Vancouver Canadians thoroughly dominated the Frogs, getting to Everett starting pitcher Tyler Olson with five runs in the second inning. That was just the beginning of an offensive explosion for the Canadians, who went on to defeat the AquaSox 13-1.
All five Vancouver runs in the second inning were unearned thanks to two errors by Everett second baseman Bryan Brito.
Vancouver second baseman David Harris got the first of 12 hits on the night for the Canadians, when his second-inning RBI double scored designated hitter Jordan Leyland. Harris finished 4-for-5 with two doubles and two RBI.
Olson pitched just 22/3 innings, giving up seven hits and six runs. Olson’s replacement, Ricardo Pereira, didn’t fare any better. He lasted just 21/3 innings, giving up five earned runs on three hits.
Vancouver first baseman L.B. Dantzler provided the game’s only home run, a two-run shot in the fifth inning that was never in question from the moment it left his bat. Dantzler’s home run gave the Canadians a 9-0 lead.
Canadians starting pitcher Eric Brown held the AquaSox at bay for seven shutout innings, giving up just three hits and striking out nine.
The AquaSox loaded the bases with nobody out in the bottom of the ninth inning, but came away with just one run on a sacrifice fly by first baseman Justin Seager.
Vancouver’s Ian Parmley, a 2008 graduate of Monroe High School, batted 1-for-3 with a two-run double and a run scored bringing his average up to .279 on the season.
Center fielder Michael Faulkner had two of the Frogs’ four hits in the game and finished 2-for-4.
Winning close
Winning close games is something that good teams have to do in order to become championship teams. So far this season, the AquaSox have been doing just that.
Ten of Everett’s 20 wins this season have come in one-run games and the AquaSox are 10-1 in games decided by a run.
“I think it shows the character of our team that we get through with some perseverance and our guys don’t get too rattled under pressure,” Everett manager Rob Mummau said. “Hats off to our players.”
The AquaSox’s ability to win the close ones is a big reason why they remain in first place in the Northwest League’s North division.
Big series
This week’s three-game set with the Canadians might go a long way toward determining who wins the North division’s first-half championship and who qualifies for the postseason.
The AquaSox entered the series with a 20-10 record and were two games up on the Canadians. Everett could leave the series with a lead as big as five games, or at worst, trailing by a game.
“I think (the series) is extremely important,” Mummau said. “They are one of the better teams in the league and they are in our division and they have a great coaching staff and good players. We have to battle here for three days.”
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