EVERETT — The Everett AquaSox jumped ahead early, then hung tight late as they edged the Tri-City Dust Devils 4-3 Wednesday night at Everett Memorial Stadium.
Everett (5-1) was outhit 12-3 in the game. However the AquaSox took advantage of wildness by Tri-City starting pitcher Peter Tago to take a 4-0 lead in the second inning. Everett’s pitchers kept the Dust Devils off the scoreboard until the ninth, when Tri-City (3-3) rallied within one, but the Sox held on.
Everett starting pitcher Rigoberto Garcia had his second straight quality start to improve to 2-0. The 19-year-old right-hander from the Dominican Republic tossed six scoreless innings, fanning six. Richard White put out the fire in the ninth by retiring the final two batters with the tying run on second, picking up his first save.
D.J. Peterson, the Seattle Mariners’ first-round pick in this year’s draft, made his professional debut Wednesday. Peterson served as Everett’s designated hitter and went 0-for-3 with a walk.
Tago struggled to find the strike zone early, and Everett took advantage to grab an early lead. The Sox scored one in the bottom of the first inning when Alfredo Morales came home on a wild pitch. Everett then got three more in the second with the aid of two walks, two wild pitches and a hit batter. Carlton Tanabe and Michael Faulkner had RBI singles during the rally.
Everett’s pitchers got out of jams all night until the ninth, when the Dust Devils strung together four singles against Sox reliever Aaron Brooks to get within one and put the tying run on second. But White got a strikeout and a groundout to end the game.
Peguero promoted
Martin Peguero’s stay in the Northwest League proved to be a short one.
The 19-year-old infielder from the Dominican Republic was on the move Wednesday as he was promoted to Clinton of the Midwest League. A series of moves throughout the Seattle Mariners minor-league organization created the opening in Clinton for Peguero.
Peguero appeared in each of Everett’s first five games and led the team in hitting at .389 (7-for-18). He also walked four times, scored four runs, drove in three, and played error-free in the field.
Peguero’s departure leaves the Sox with five infielders on the roster. That doesn’t include Reggie Lawson, who’s listed as an outfielder but started each of Everett’s first six games at first base.
Injury update
Sox first baseman Justin Seager was available Wednesday night. Seager sat out Everett’s first five games after contracting blood poisoning via a cut in his wrist. He was not in the starting lineup, but was available on the bench.
Center fielder James Zamarripa, who suffered a strained left hamstring in Monday’s home opener against Tri-City, was not available Wednesday. However, he continues to make progress and is expected to be available today.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
