EVERETT — The Everett AquaSox were so excited about playing their first home game of the 2012 season, they decided to stretch it out as long as possible.
And fortunately for the Sox, it finished with a happy conclusion.
The AquaSox rallied in the bottom of the 13th inning to defeat the Spokane Indians 9-8 Wednesday night at Everett Memorial Stadium.
On a night that saw the highly-anticipated home debut of Everett’s 17-year-old pitching phenom Victor Sanchez, Spokane tied it up with two out in the ninth inning, then took an 8-6 lead in the top of the 13th thanks to Joe Maloney’s moonshot two-run homer.
However, the Indians were forced to use position player Nick Vickerson on the mound in the bottom of the 13th, and the Sox took advantage. Marcus Littlewood slugged a two-run homer of his own to tie it, then Chris Taylor grounded a single to left, scoring Ketel Marte from second to end the game.
Everett improved to 4-2, Spokane dropped to 1-5.
Sanchez wasn’t quite able to follow up on his successful professional debut last Friday at Tri-City, when he allowed just one run in six innings. The hefty right-hander was solid through five innings, showing a fastball that hovered around 90 mph and good command of his offspeed pitches. However, he ran into trouble in the sixth as his pitch count approached his final total of 89.
Sanchez ended up going six innings for the second straight start. He allowed five runs on nine hits and three walks, striking out five as he left with a no decision.
Spokane starting pitcher John Kukuruda had all kinds of trouble with his command. The right-hander missed his spots and ended up walking five in three innings. Because of Spokane’s defensive issues, just one of the five runs Kukuruda allowed was earned.
Everett opened its 2012 home schedule with a bang, scoring four runs in the bottom of the first inning to take a 4-0 lead. However, almost all the work was done by Spokane as the Indians made three errors, along with two walks and a hit batter issued by Kukuruda. Two runs scored on errors, while Alfredo Morales added sacrifice fly and Patrick Kivlehan pitched in an RBI single.
Spokane got on the board in the second when Gabriel Roa dropped an RBI single down the left-field line.
The Sox tacked on another in the bottom of the second solely because on Jamodrick McGruder’s speed. McGruder walked, stole second and third, then scored when the throw to third sailed into the outfield, making it 5-1.
The Indians scored again in the fourth courtesy if Cam Schiller’s RBI double to center, which made it 5-2.
Spokane then tied it in the sixth when Barrett Serrato lofted a three-run homer into the homer porch in right, knotting it at 5-5.
The Sox kept the game tied in the seventh when first baseman Taylor Ard gunned down Chris Garia at the plate.
Everett looked like it scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventh. With two out and nobody on, Taylor laced a double to right. Ard followed by ripping a grounder past the stab of third baseman Ryan Rua. Taylor motored around third, headed home, and he and the throw from left fielder Royce Bolinger arrived simultaneously. Taylor slid in hard, knocking the ball out of catcher Joe Maloney’s glove with his outstretched foot. He then tapped the plate with the same foot to give Everett the lead.
But the Indians tied it again in the top of the ninth. Everett was one out away from victory when Preston Beck threw his bat at the ball and dumped a bleeder into left for a single, scoring Roa from third to make it 6-6.
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