Frogs strike out 17 times, still win

Published 10:24 pm Monday, June 22, 2015

EVERETT — Who needs contact?

The Everett AquaSox struck out 17 times in eight innings Monday night, yet still rallied to defeat the Eugene Emeralds 8-4 at Everett Memorial Stadium.

Corey Simpson, who struck out in his first three at bats, hit a bases-clearing double in the bottom of the eighth inning to turn a 4-2 deficit into a 5-4 lead as the Sox made the most of when they were able to put the ball in play. Everett scored six of its eight runs in the eighth.

Logan Taylor added a two-run homer — the first of his professional career — for Everett (4-1), which completed a successful first series of the Northwest League season.

Everett starting pitcher Andrew Moore, a second-round pick by the Seattle Mariners in this year’s amateur draft, had an impressive professional debut. The right-hander from Oregon State University threw three perfect innings, striking out five.

Eugene starter Andin Diaz struck out eight in four innings, and reliever Jordan Brink fanned six of the seven batters he faced to lead the Emeralds (1-4).

Ratliff update

Everett starting pitcher Lane Ratliff is on the mend.

Ratliff was scratched from his scheduled start Sunday after he had to be taken to the hospital Saturday evening because of a kidney stone. Ratliff has passed the stone and is on his way back to full baseball activities.

Everett pitching coach Jason Blanton said he was unsure whether Ratliff would head straight back into the rotation or be given some time to work is way back to full strength. Ratliff’s next time through the rotation is scheduled for Friday’s home game against Boise. Spencer Herrmann started in Ratliff’s place Sunday as the Sox went with a bullpen game using five different pitchers, with all of them throwing more than one full inning.