AquaSox crush Canadians 16-7 to complete three-game sweep

Published 6:00 pm Thursday, August 11, 2016

VANCOUVER, B.C. — The Everett AquaSox completed a three-game sweep in emphatic fashion Thursday afternoon as they defeated the Vancouver Canadians 16-7 before 6,413 fans at Nat Bailey Stadium.

Everett broke the game open early with seven runs in the second and eight runs in the third to take a commanding 15-2 lead after three innings.

The Frogs (10-4 second half, 28-24 overall) remain in first place in the Northwest League second-half North Division standings. Vancouver (4-10, 20-32) has lost seven in a row and is 4-16 in its last 20 contests.

Everett sent 11 batters to the plate in the second inning as they scored seven times to erase an early 1-0 deficit. Austin Grebeck had a three-run home run and Eric Filia added an RBI triple to provide the big hits for the AquaSox.

Then, the Frogs tacked on eight more runs in the third as the first six batters had hits. Grebeck had an RBI double, Joe Venturino had an RBI single, and Vancouver pitchers issued three bases-loaded to walks as Everett’s lead swelled to 15-2. All told AquaSox sent 14 men to the plate in the third.

Everett’s 16 runs and 18 hits were both season highs.

Grebeck finished with two hits, two runs and five RBI, Donnie Walton added two hits, two runs and two RBI, Filia had three hits and scored twice, Nick Thurman had three hits and scored twice and Venturino had three hits, scored twice and drove in four. Johmbeyker Morales also had two hits.

The AquaSox were 7-for-16 with runners in scoring position and still managed to strand a dozen. They also drew nine walks from Vancouver pitchers.

Paul Covelle (4-2) earned the win in relief as he went 2 2/3 innings of five-hit, one-run ball.

Vancouver starter Dalton Rodriguez (2-6) took the loss as he lasted just 1 1/3 and allowed seven runs — five earned — on five hits.

Joshua Palacios had three hits and drove in two to lead the Canadians.

The AquaSox return home Friday to begin an eight-game homestand against Salem-Keizer and Tri-City.