AquaSox fall 3-1, drop 2nd in a row on the road to Tri-City

PASCO — The Tri-City Dust Devils extended their division lead over the Everett AquaSox to two games Saturday with a 3-1 victory at Gesa Stadium.

The AquaSox (9-7) scored first, but the Dust Devils (11-5) scored the final three runs to take the first two games of the three-game set.

Tri-City pitchers retired the final eight Everett hitters in succession to slam the door on any potential Everett comeback.

The loss sullied a strong effort from Everett starter Jake Brentz, who struck out five in five innings while allowing three hits and no runs. Brentz was saddled with a no-decision ever after working out of a two-on, one-out situation in the fifth by inducing a strikeout and a pop-up to keep the game scoreless.

Everett took a 1-0 lead in the top of the sixth. Back-to-back hits by Nick Zammarelli and Kyle Lewis opened the frame and Kristian Brito bunted them each up a base. Eric Filia’s sacrifice fly plated Zammarelli to give the Frogs the game’s first run.

The Dust Devils took the lead in the bottom of the inning against Everett reliever Lane Ratliff. Chris Mattison’s RBI single tied the game before Ratliff had to be helped off the field with an undisclosed ailment. Thomas Burrows came on and allowed an RBI single to Mason Smith, giving Tri-City a 2-1 lead.

Everett’s Jhombeyker Morales was ejected in the seventh after being called out on a pickoff attempt. Frogs manager Rob Mummau came out to defend Morales and was promptly ejected himself for the first time this season.

Tri-City added an insurance run when Nate Easley drove in Luis Asuncion following an eight-pitch at-bat in the bottom of the eighth to make it 3-1.

The Dust Devils left 11 on base while Everett stranded five.

Zamarelli and Morales each finished with two hits in the game. The Frogs will attempt to salvage the final game of the three-game series at 7:15 p.m. on Sunday.

Tim Viehoff (0-0, 2.08 ERA) will start for the Frogs against Angel Mejia (1-0, 2.45 ERA) of the Dust Devils.