YAKIMA – Everett relief pitcher Aaron Trolia fought through a ninth-inning scare and the hot-hitting Bryan LaHair delivered a game-winning home run as the AquaSox defeated Yakima 3-2 Monday in a Northwest League baseball game at Yakima County Stadium.
The AquaSox, who held the Bears (2-2) to just one hit over the final six innings – and three hits for the game – continue the five-game series in Yakima today with a 7:05 p.m. game.
After giving up two early runs Monday night, Everett (3-1) began its comeback in the fifth inning.
The speedy Casey Craig led off the inning with a single to right field. He stole second base and moved to third on a fielder’s choice by Elvis Cruz.
Craig then scored on a single by Trevor Heid to make the score 2-1.
And the AquaSox weren’t done. Heid stole second base and then scored on a Brent Johnson single to center field to tie the score 2-2.
LaHair, Everett’s first baseman, hit his fourth double in two games in the fourth inning, then broke the 2-2 tie in the sixth inning with a solo home run, his first of the season. LaHair was 2-for-4 in the game to raise his average to .471.
Yakima, which had just two baserunners over the final six innings, made a slight run in the ninth inning.
Erik Schindewolf led off with a single to center field and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Mark Reynolds. With one out and a runner in scoring position, Trolia walked a batter and then got the final two hitters to fly out to earn the save.
The Bears got off to a quick start, scoring single runs in the second and third to take an early 2-0 lead. Yakima’s Trey Hendricks hit a leadoff solo home run in the second inning and Rodrigo Aquirre scored from third base in the third on a wild pitch by Everett starter Ruben Flores.
Aquirre, who reached first base on a single, moved to second on a walk and advanced to third base on a throwing error by Flores.
That was all the offense the Bears could muster against the steady Flores.
The 6-foot-4 right-hander retired nine of the final 10 batters he faced. In six innings of work, Flores gave up two hits and struck out four to earn his first win of the season.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
