VANCOUVER, B.C. — For seven innings the Everett AquaSox did absolutely nothing at the plate.
Then they somehow found a way to win it in the eighth and ninth.
After amassing just one hit over the first seven frames, the Sox scored twice in the eighth and once more in the ninth as they
defeated the Vancouver Canadians 3-2 Thursday night in Northwest League action.
Vancouver starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard held Everett without a hit for five dominating innings, striking out eight. Then reliever Eric Brown kept the Sox quiet for two more innings.
But the Sox scored twice in the eighth with the aid of some Vancouver defensive follies to tie it at 2-2, then Jabari Blash’s RBI double high off the left-field wall in the top of the ninth brought home the winning run.
Tim Griffin retired the final six batters in order to earn the win for Everett (15-8 second half, 31-30 overall).
Andrew Burns hit an inside-the-park home run to lead Vancouver (8-15, 32-29).
Joe DiRocco received a spot start for Everett in place of Jordan Shipers, who is dealing with shoulder soreness. DiRocco allowed one run in 42/3 innings.
Vancouver opened the scoring in the bottom of the second on Burns’ homer. Burns sent a ball deep to center that popped free from center fielder Jarrett Burgess’ glove when Burgess crashed into the wall. Burgess stayed down, and that gave Burns the opportunity to motor all the way home to give the Canadians a 1-0 lead.
The Canadians doubled their advantage in the sixth when Shane Opitz blooped an RBI single, scoring Roan Salas from second to make it 2-0.
Everett had just one hit through seven innings, but the Sox took advantage of three Vancouver errors to tie it in the eighth. Ramon Morla, who reached after striking out on a wild pitch, scored on Opitz’s throwing error at short. Then Jim Wood doubled down the first-base line to score Jorge Agudelo from first and make it 2-2.
The Sox then took the lead in the ninth when Blash send a long drive to left that hit off the top of the wall. Pinch runner Jetsy Extrano scored all the way from first on the double to give Everett a 3-2 lead.
