AquaSox rally late for 10-9 victory in 10 innings
Published 9:00 pm Monday, August 27, 2001
By Chris Trujillo
Herald Writer
EVERETT – Forget the fact that the Everett AquaSox are already making their tee times following the regular season finale September 5th on the road against Vancouver.
Scratch from your memory bank that their top nemesis, the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, have won nine of the teams’ 13-game season series.
The fact is, when you’ve been eliminated from postseason action, you’re really only as good as your last outing.
And for the AquaSox, their last appearance showcased a last effort offensive power attack, which guided them to a drama filled, come-from-behind, 10-inning, 10-9 victory over the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes in front of 3,674 fans Monday night at Everett Memorial Stadium.
After going hitless in his last 14 at-bats to begin the night, AquaSox outfielder Orlando Hernandez capped off the AquaSox’s comeback when he hit a single to left field in the 10th inning to drive in Jose Lopez with the game-winning run. Lopez, slid under Salem-Keizer catcher Anthony Turco, who juggled a throw from outfielder Rob Meyer.
Hernandez finished the game 2-for-5 with two RBI. Lopez finished with three hits along with teammate Blake Woods. AquaSox pitcher Russ Morgan picked up the victory, improving his record to 2-4.
The action packed evening allowed Everett to improve its record to 33-33, while the championship series-bound Volcanoes dropped to 43-24. Everett, which snapped the Volcanoes’ five-game winning streak, all against the Frogs, picked up its 20th home victory with three home games remaining.
Despite trailing by three runs entering the bottom of the ninth inning, the AquaSox refused to go away quietly. In fact, they added just enough excitement to wake up the sparse crowd.
The heroics started when Lopez scored from first base on a throwing error by Salem-Keizer’s third baseman after Woods hit an unpredictable bouncer, making the score 9-7. Greg Dobbs hit a blooper to right field, scoring Woods from second base, narrowing the score to 9-8. With the bases loaded, Salem-Keizer’s Noah Lowry hit Jason VanMeeten with a pitch, allowing the game-tying run to score.
After falling behind 4-0, the AquaSox answered back in the bottom of the first inning, scoring four runs thanks to Woods’ home run and a John Williamson triple, scoring Dobbs and Emmanuel Santana.
The Volcanoes continued to abuse Everett starter Juan Done, who went 4 2/3 innings while surrendering four hits and five runs. Matt Keating ripped a high fastball over the left field fence for a home run to give Salem-Keizer a 5-4 lead.
But the high powered Frogs returned the assault when Hernandez hit a towering home run over left field fence to tie the game for the second time in as many innings.
