Taylor, Jackson lead AquaSox to 4-1 win over Hops
Published 10:18 pm Tuesday, July 21, 2015
HILLSBORO, Ore. — The Everett AquaSox struck late, scoring three runs in the seventh inning en route to defeating the Hillsboro Hops 4-1 Tuesday night.
The score was tied 1-1 going into the top of the seventh, but Everett railed to take control of the game.
Three Everett pitchers combined on a four-hitter to lead Everett. Starter Jose Santiago allow just one run in five innings, departing with the score tied. Joe Pistorese earned the win with three scoreless innings of relief. Joey Strain pitched a perfect ninth to pick up the save. Drew Jackson went 4-for-5 and Logan Taylor was 3-for-5 with two RBI to lead Everett offensively. The Sox, who finished the game with 13 hits, moved back into a tie with Hillsboro for the best record in the Northwest League at 19-14. Just five games remain in the first half of the season.
No batter had more than one hit for Hillsboro.
Everett opened the scoring in the top of the first inning. With two out Taylor singled, advanced to second on a wild pitch, then scored on Corey Simpson’s single to left, staking the Sox to a 1-0 lead.
Hillsboro matched the Sox in the bottom of the first. A pair of walks and a fly ball that advanced the runners was followed by a passed ball, which allowed Stephen Dezzi to score from third and make it 1-1.
But the Sox surged back ahead in the top of the seventh. Braden Bishop singled to right, scoring pinch runner Erick Mejia from second with the go-ahead run. Everett wasn’t done. Kevin Simmons came on to replace Hillsboro starting pitcher Jared Miller, and Taylor greeted him with a single to center, bringing home two more runs to make it 4-1. That was more than enough for the Sox.
