EVERETT — The Everett AquaSox are proving no lead against them is safe.
Spokane led the Frogs 6-2 late in Friday night’s game before the Everett offense exploded for a six-run seventh inning to overtake the Indians for the AquaSox fourth win in a row.
The big rally was capped by a bases-loaded double by No. 9 hitter Conner Hale. Hale’s two-out, three-run hit put Everett up for good in the game.
It wasn’t the first comeback victory for the AquaSox this season. Half of the Frogs’ 22 wins have come in games where they have been tied or trailing after the fifth inning.
“The one thing that I love about this team is that we never quit, no matter what the score is, no matter what inning,” Hale said. “We’re always going to give it our best shot.”
Hale, a 2015 ninth-round draft pick who is batting .147 this season, was looking for a pitch in the strike zone to put in play.
He got one right off the bat.
“I was just going up there looking for one pitch I was able to drive,” Hale said, “and luckily it was that first pitch that I was able to drive into left center.”
The AquaSox No. 9 batter, Hale’s heroics continued a trend for the AquaSox this season, with everybody in the batting order producing.
“Getting production one through nine, which we’ve done all year, and Conner has a huge hit right there in that spot with the bases-clearing double,” said Rob Mummau, the Everett manager. “He’s been working hard all year and it’s good to see that hard work pay off. … He’s made some adjustments and is playing great defense out there. He’s just a great kid to have on the team.”
Friday night’s victory was the fourth win in a row and fifth in their last six games for Everett as the Frogs look to wrap up a first-half North Division title and clinch a playoff spot with the end of the first half of the Northwest League season Sunday.
“We always feel like we can make a run,” Hale said. “We’ve done it a pretty good amount of times this season. We don’t feel like we’re ever out of a game. We’re just trying to go out there and win it. We just have to take it one game at a time and let it take care of itself.”
Jackson remains sidelined
Alex Jackson, the Seattle Mariners 2014 first-round pick, remains sidelined with a hand injury. Jackson, who hasn’t played in a game since July 15, didn’t take batting practice on Saturday but was on the field with the team.
Mummau said he is unsure when the right-handed outfielder will be back on the field for the AquaSox.
“There’s no timetable,” Mummau said. “Whenever his hand gets better.”
Playoff watch
Everett entered Saturday night’s contest with a 1 1⁄2-game lead over Tri-City with the Frogs’ magic number at two — meaning the AquaSox need any combination of Everett wins and Tri-City losses to equal two over the teams’ final two days of the Northwest League’s first half of the season.
Tri-City played a doubleheader against Vancouver Saturday night and plays Spokane on Sunday. Everett faced Spokane Saturday and plays Vancouver in the first-half season finale on Sunday afternoon.
The top team in the North and South divisions after Sunday’s games clinch playoff berths.
“Just try to treat each day the same. Every day’s important, every game is important,” Mummau said. “Anytime you’re in a playoff hunt it’s fun. We’re definitely enjoying that.”
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