Ellis, AquaSox walk all over Spokane

Published 10:00 am Thursday, August 21, 2025

EVERETT — Hunter Mann was having a rough go of it.

The Spokane Indians reliever had walked three straight Everett AquaSox batters to load the bases with one out in the bottom of the sixth inning, trailing 4-2 at Funko Field on Wednesday. AquaSox catcher Matthew Ellis stepped to the plate looking to take advantage.

Mann spiked the first pitch into the dirt. Ellis stomped twice on the corner of the batter’s box with his left foot and reset his stance. The second pitch tracked into the bottom inside corner of the strike zone, but umpire David Saball called it a ball. The third pitch went low to make the count 3-0.

On the crucial fourth pitch, Mann delivered it right back into the inside bottom corner of the zone. Saball disagreed. Ball Four.

Ellis pumped his fist and removed his elbow and leg guards before trotting to first base. Carson Jones jogged across home plate. After extending the lead to 5-2, the AquaSox scored two more runs — via a Luis Suisbel hit by pitch and yet another walk, this time from Tai Peete — to build the lead up to five entering the seventh inning.

“Each guy stayed committed to their plan and was able to try to find a good pitch to hit, and if they didn’t, they were able to lay off of it,” Ellis said. “We were able to generate a lot of offense with some walks tonight.”

“Some” walks may be an understatement. Everett kept taking free bases and piling up runs before settling at an 11-2 victory, totaling 13 walks in the process. They didn’t pick on just Mann either, although only 34.5 percent of his pitches were strikes. With the exception of Alan Perdomo, who pitched a clean ninth inning trailing by nine runs, each of the other three Spokane pitchers — Mann, starter Everett Catlett and Alberto Pacheco — walked at least four batters on Wednesday. None had a strike percentage above 54 percent.

“We made adjustments. They (The Spokane pitchers were) a little bit crazy today,” Suisbel said, gesturing pitches coming in at different locations. “We (were) taking good pitches, and I think, too, we (had) a good plan during the ABs, and that’s why we have our results.”

While aided by favorable ball calls on a few pitches, the AquaSox did their part in selecting which pitches to swing at. Aside from Ellis’ four-pitch walk, the other four walks in the sixth inning came on full counts. AquaSox manager Zach Vincej praised his players for “not trying to do too much” in those moments.

On top of all the free bases, Everett generated nine hits. Infielder Brandon Eike clubbed a couple of two-run homers late in the game, and Ellis also recorded two hits, including the go-ahead RBI double in the fifth to give Everett a 3-2 lead.

After taking Ball One, Ellis squared up a pitch down the middle and lined it off the center field wall to score shortstop Felnin Celesten, who also had two hits and two walks on the night.

Wednesday marked Celesten’s second game in Everett following his call-up from Low-A Modesto, while Ellis is settling in three weeks after arriving himself. The duo slotted second and third in the batting order, respectively, and while the lineup is pretty fluid on a day-to-day basis, the two new guys proved their value in those spots.

“Ellis, he really dominates the zone at a high level,” Vincej said. “Works his walks, puts the ball in play, and you saw it tonight, he was able to clutch up for us and have some good swings. So yeah, we’ll see where it goes from here, but for the most part, it’s nice having those guys (Celesten and Ellis) at the top of the order.”

Since his arrival, Ellis has played in three of six games in each series so far, splitting time with Josh Caron behind the plate. Despite jumping in and out of the lineup, Ellis has base hits in four of his past five appearances following a four-game hitting drought.

Growing comfortable with the rest of his teammates, Ellis is optimistic about the next few weeks before the Northwest League Championship Series, which begins on Sept. 9.

“Every guy that’s come through the clubhouse has been super welcoming,” Ellis said. “Getting jelled with the new guys has been awesome as we keep going, getting closer with each other.”