EVERETT — Everett AquaSox starting pitcher Luiz Gohara didn’t enter Tuesday’s All-Star game between the best from the Northwest League and the best from the Pioneer League until there were two outs in the top of the eighth inning. He may have had to wait his turn, but he more than made the most of his opportunity.
Gohara pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings, striking out two, giving up only one hit and picking up the win for the Northwest League, which defeated the Pioneer League 6-5 in 10 innings.
“It was pretty good to go out there and represent the AquaSox and the Mariners,” Gohara said. “I’ve worked hard for that.”
Gohara was the last pitcher out of the bullpen for the Northwest All-Stars and if it weren’t for a walk-off single by Tri-City’s Peter Van Gansen in the bottom of the 10th inning, the Northwest League might have been out of pitching options.
“If the game had gone longer I don’t know if I would have gone out there and thrown more innings because we have a limit for that, but (for) those 21/3 innings you just go out there and compete and pound the (strike) zone and try to get the win.”
AquaSox manager Rob Mummau said Gohara’s performance can only be a positive as the season goes forward.
“I think it’s only going to help him,” Mummau said. “I wouldn’t look into it too much. It’s only one game and you still have to come out and play every day. One game doesn’t make a year and one year doesn’t make a career, so he’s still got to come out and compete, but I’m very happy for him and he did a great job there for us.”
Gohara, who is 2-4 this season with a 4.76 earned-run average and a team-high 39 strikeouts, wasn’t the only player to represent Everett in the All-Star game. Drew Jackson, who leads the Northwest League with a .373 batting average heading into Thursday, went 1-for-2 with a double and a run scored and Logan Taylor went 0-for-4 with a walk.
“It’s a great honor for all those kids,” Mummau said. “Whether it’s tee-ball, little league, high school or professional baseball, any time you make an all-star team it’s a great honor.”
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