Frogs win opener with Dust Devils

Published 11:12 pm Sunday, June 24, 2007

PASCO – It was a pitchers duel, until one of the pitchers left.

Everett starter Edward Paredes fought Tri-City’s Sheng-An Kuo for seven innings, but the AquaSox scored four runs in the top of the eighth to come from behind and beat the Dust Devils 5-2.

Kuo had a run of nine straight AquaSox batters retired, which might have been the story of the night had Paredes not retired 10 consecutive Dust Devils from the fourth to the seventh inning to keep Everett in the game.

But, Kuo had to leave in the top of the eighth after appearing to hurt his right foot, and that’s when the AquaSox struck.

Edilio Colina was hit by a pitch to begin the inning. Kuo then struck out Joseph Dunigan before being taken out of the game.

Jefferey Dunbar then walked after beginning the at-bat with an 0-2 count off reliever Riquy Pena.

Ogui Diaz followed that with a two-RBI double to score a hustling Dunbar from first in a close play at the plate.

Diaz reached third base on the throw home and later scored on a pinch hit single by Manelik Pimentel.

The AquaSox added another run in the eighth and one more in the top of the ninth to send Tri-City to its fifth straight loss.

Diaz and Matt Mangini each went 2-for-4 and Colina finished with two runs scored to lead the AquaSox, who continued their strong defensive play recording their fourth straight game without an error.

Paredes recorded the win to improve his record to 2-0 and reliever Keith Meyer recorded Everett’s first save this season.

Kevin Clark led off the eighth inning for Tri-City with a solo home run off AquaSox reliever Will Brown, who then struck out the side.

Darin Holcomb, a former Gonzaga University player, scored the other run for the Dust Devils after he reached base on a third strike that got away from Everett’s Dunbar in the bottom of the fourth.