EVERETT — Left-handed starter Michael Plassmeyer has been very effective this season for the Everett AquaSox.
Plassmeyer, who was the Seattle Mariners’ fourth-round pick from the University of Missouri, turned in another stellar two-inning stint Monday as Everett won its fourth straight 7-4 over the Spokane Indians.
“He’s able to throw his pitches for strikes,” Everett manager Jose Moreno said. “He establishes his fastball, and then he has real good secondary pitches in the breaking ball and changeup. So he’s been able to mix and try to keep the hitters off-balance.”
Plassmeyer has no record because he does not go the requisite five innings to earn a victory. That’s due to the Mariners limiting his innings after he threw 91 1/3 innings this spring at Mizzou.
He has allowed seven hits and fanned 20 while walking only one in 10 2/3 innings with Everett. His two scoreless innings Monday lowered his earned-run average to 1.69. With a fastball that tops out about 91 miles-per-hour, Plassmeyer doesn’t blow hitters away with his velocity.
“I’d say (the success is) more pitch sequencing,” Plassmeyer said. “Just mixing pitches so I’m not always throwing fastballs in fastball counts, flipping in the breaking ball and putting that in the back of their head and everything. Then the fastball plays a little bit better there.”
Gerber takes over saves lead
Everett reliever Joey Gerber earned a four-out save Monday and took over the Northwest League lead with six saves.
He did walk in an inherited runner that was charged to Cody Mobley before getting the final four outs to preserve the victory.
“The confidence (is there),” Moreno said. “(Gerber) knows he has good enough stuff and just trusts what he can do and tries to attack the hitters with his fastball, and after that he can use his breaking ball.”
Gerber has struck out 16 in 11 innings and has an ERA of 1.64.
Hoover, Honeyman return to Everett
Infielders Connor Hoover and Bobby Honeyman have each returned to Everett after stints with other Mariners affiliates.
Hoover appeared in one game with class Triple-A Tacoma when he pinch-ran and scored a run. He’s hitting just .158 with Everett, but his .396 on-base percentage is second on the team. He has walked 15 times in 15 games this season.
Honeyman played in six games with advanced A Modesto where he slashed .227/.227./545. The infielder is slashing .311/.358/.377 in 17 games with Everett.
Catcher Cal Raleigh has joined the roster and is expected to play in Wednesday’s series finale. Raleigh was Seattle’s third-round pick out of Florida State and signed with the club just prior to the deadline two weeks ago.
AquaSox closing in on first-half title
The first half of the NWL ends next week when the AquaSox are in Boise. The Frogs entered Tuesday’s game with a two-game lead in the North Division standings and looking to clinch the first-half title and guarantee a trip to the NWL playoffs.
That’s not something Moreno is emphasizing at this point.
“We try to keep it simple and not put too much pressure (on the players),” Moreno said. “This game is very hard, as you know. Of course we want to give information on where we are right now. Right now we’re playing meaningful games. Everything is important, every little detail and trying to enjoy this experience. If you can learn that right now when you start your career, that’s something that’s going to help you on your journey to get to the big leagues.”
For the latest AquaSox news follow Jesse Geleynse on Twitter.
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