EVERETT — It was close, but the Everett AquaSox were able to steal a victory in a back-and-forth contest against Tri-City.
The Frogs swiped eight bases, including two apiece by Luis Liberato and Yordi Calderon, as Everett defeated the Dust Devils 7-5 Saturday night at Everett Memorial Stadium.
Six different AquaSox stole a base to give Everett 88 steals this season, including the first steal of the year for designated hitter/catcher PJ Jones. The AquaSox are second in the Northwest League behind Boise, which has tallied 114 stolen bases this season.
“It’s something we try to emphasize: if you get a good jump, go,” said Rob Mummau, the Everett manager. “We felt like we had some pretty good reads tonight and did a pretty good job.”
The steals helped the Frogs battle back against Tri-City, which wasted little time getting on the scoreboard with a two-run home run by designated hitter Jose Carlos Urena in the top of the first inning.
Everett immediately responded in the bottom half of the inning with an RBI single by Erick Mejia and a sacrifice fly by Corey Simpson.
The two teams continued to go back and forth with the Dust Devils scoring three in the top of the second before the AquaSox got two back thanks to a solo home run by Luis Liberato and an RBI double by Jordan Cowan.
The Frogs pulled even with Tri-City in the fourth on a solo home run by Yordi Calderon. Calderon’s RBI ground out in the sixth put Everett ahead for the first time in the contest and the AquaSox added an insurance run in the seventh with an RBI single by Yojhan Quevedo.
“I think it speaks to a lot of our players, how they never gave up,” Mummau said. “You know, we’re down 2-0 after the top of the first, came back and tied it. Then we’re down 5-2 and they kept on battling back and I think that speaks to the character of our team.”
Calderon, who got the start at first base, was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI.
“He doesn’t get to play everyday but when he gets his chance he does a great job,” Mummau said of Calderon. “He always gives a good effort and it’s good to see him have a nice night.”
Cowan went 2-for-4 with a double, triple and an RBI, Liberato added a pair of runs and an RBI and Everett leadoff hitter Drew Jackson, who leads the NWL with 32 stolen bases, extended his hitting streak to 15 with a single in the seventh inning.
Jackson, who scored two runs, boasts the longest active streak in the NWL.
“He’s been a catalyst offensively,” Mummau said. “He gets after it each at-bat. He really competes well in the batter’s box and takes that into the basepaths.”
Everett saw Alex Jackson, the Seattle Mariners’ 2014 first-round draft pick, return to the lineup for the first time since July 15. Jackson, who was out with an injured hand, went 1-for-2 with a double. The right-hander started the game in right field before being replaced by Logan Taylor in the sixth inning.
“(We wanted to) give him two at-bats (Saturday) and see how he feels and if all goes well get him back in the lineup (Sunday),” Mummau said.
Tri-City roughed up Everett starter Luiz Gohara, who was making his first appearance since earning the win in the Northwest League vs. Pioneer League All-Star game on August 4. Gohara gave up five runs on seven hits in just two innings of work.
One of those runs was driven in by Tri-City’s Peter Van Gansen, who drove in the winning run in the 10th inning of the All-Star game to clinch the win for Gohara.
“He was throwing strikes, his velocity was there, he just found the middle of the plate a little too often,” Mummau said. “Tri-City did a good job of putting the bat on the ball.”
Everett’s bullpen picked up the slack, with Rohn Pierce, Lance Thonvold and Joe Pistorese combining to pitch seven scoreless innings of relief. Pierce (3-0) picked up the victory with four shutout innings and Pistorese earned his first save of the season.
“(The relievers) were lights out all night, just pounding the strike zone,” Mummau said. “They did a great job.”
Selfless Sox
The AquaSox added to their Northwest League-leading totals in sacrifice hits (29) and sacrifice flies (25) in their two victories over Tri-City.
On Friday, Everett scored two runs on sacrifice flies — by Corey Simpson and Logan Taylor — and had three more sacrifices, including two by Jordan Cowan and another by No. 2 hitter Braden Bishop. Bishop leads the league with nine sacrifices and Yojhan Quevedo leads the NWL with six sacrifice flies.
“It’s huge. That’s one thing that (Everett hitting coach) Brian Hunter stresses: ‘Get them over, get them in,’” said AquaSox manager Rob Mummau. “The kids are taking really good advantage of that.
“At this level, it’s just stressing the fundamentals and making sure kids know what to do in the right situations. Then executing is key.”
4MOM
The AquaSox have partnered with the Alzheimer’s Association Washington State Chapter and #4MOM, a charity started by Everett outfielder Braden Bishop to raise awareness and funding for Alzheimer’s, for #4MOM Day on Wednesday, August 19, in the Frogs’ game against the Spokane Indians.
Bishop began #4MOM after his mother, Suzy, was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s.
Fans are encouraged to wear purple to the game and mention #4MOM at the gate for discount tickets. Players from both teams will be wearing #4MOM decals and the Alzheimer’s Association will host a booth with information on the main concourse.
On tap
Saturday’s game ended a brief three-game homestand for Everett, which will spend the next week on the road. The AquaSox kick off a three-game series with Vancouver Sunday evening before heading to Eugene for a five-game series.
The Frogs return to Everett for a brief three-game series with Spokane on August 17 before hitting the road again.
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