AquaSox walk off on wild pitch, win fourth straight

Published 11:15 pm Saturday, July 26, 2025

EVERETT — When Zach Vincej complimented Carter Dorighi’s ability to make contact following his three-hit game for the Everett AquaSox in a 7-1 win against the Spokane Indians on Friday, the manager put his money where his mouth is by placing Dorighi in the leadoff spot the next day.

“A lot of contact,” Vincej said about Dorighi on Friday. “He’s going to hit line drives. … He does a little bit of everything, you know? And it’s a good bat to have in the lineup, especially putting the ball in play and being able to move runners and drive in runs that way.”

But entering the ninth inning at Funko Field on Saturday, Dorighi was 0-for-4 and the AquaSox trailed 2-1 to Spokane. Outfielder Curtis Washington Jr. led off the inning with a double, but Indians pitcher Cade Denton retired the next two batters to put the fate of the game on Dorighi’s bat. If there was any time to make contact, this was it.

All the 22-year-old infielder needed was one pitch.

Dorighi lined a single to right field, bringing Washington Jr. across to tie the game 2-2 and advancing to second on the throw home. Spokane intentionally walked shortstop Colt Emerson, but Denton threw a pair of wild pitches to outfielder Tai Peete, with the latter allowing Dorighi to stroll home and secure the 3-2 walk-off win.

“Curtis is my boy, so it’s just trying to hit him in,” Dorighi said. “(I) get something over the plate and put a good swing on it and hit it hard somewhere.”

The win marked four straight for the AquaSox, who had just two hits entering the seventh inning but still overcame a 2-0 deficit.

Everett’s switch-pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje tossed a career-high seven innings, allowing five hits and two earned runs while striking out three and walking none. Spokane scored their two runs via solo shots off Cijntje, who otherwise induced 11 groundouts compared to just three flyouts.

“Probably not my best stuff today,” Cijntje said. “I mean, (my) fastball played well, but not with the breaking stuff.”

Spokane third baseman Skyler Messinger hit his second solo home run in as many days to put the Indians ahead 1-0 in the top of the second. Messinger connected on the first pitch of the at bat, which came right down the middle. It was Spokane’s first lead in a game this series since the top of the third inning on Wednesday.

Indians starter Stu Flesland III retired the first eight batters he faced before outfielder Anthony Donofrio lined a double to right field in the bottom of the third, but it did not spark anything more for the Everett bats.

Spokane designated hitter Blake Wright doubled the lead to 2-0 with a solo homer in the top of the fifth, pulling an upper-inside pitch to left field.

AquaSox infielder Milkar Perez put Everett on the board with an RBI single in the bottom of the seventh, working a full count before driving the seventh pitch of the at bat to right-center to score Washington Jr., who walked before stealing second.

“I love Milkar,” Vincej said. “He works hard every single day. He’s had a little bit of ups and downs this year (with his production), but I know for one thing, he’s going to compete every single night, and that’s what he does for us.”

After cutting the deficit in half, the AquaSox loaded the bases in the bottom of the eighth when Emerson hit a double, Peete legged out an infield single and infielder Charlie Pagliarini worked a walk, but catcher Josh Caron and designated hitter Colin Davis each struck out to strand all three runners.

“(Spokane pitcher Bryson Hammer) threw some quality pitches, and they just swung and missed,” Vincej said. “I mean, they were aggressive when they needed to (be), and that happens sometimes.”

Despite the missed opportunity, Everett relievers Stefan Raeth and Hunter Cranton collectively allowed just three hits and no runs across the final two innings to keep the game within reach.

Then after Washington Jr. got things started in the ninth, Dorighi finished it.

Dorighi previously discussed wanting to get comfortable in Everett following his promotion from Single-A Modesto on Monday. Through his four games in the lineup, the AquaSox have four wins.

How’s that for making yourself at home?

“It feels good,” Dorighi said. “Just being out here with the guys and them cheering me on, too, (it) helps. I’m just glad to be out here.”