EUGENE, Ore. – Nobody told the Everett AquaSox that it was Seth Johnston night at Civic Stadium Wednesday.
Johnston hit two home runs and finished with eight RBI, leading the Eugene Emeralds to a 13-5 Northwest League victory over Everett.
The Emeralds shortstop hit a three-run homer in the third, an RBI double in the fourth, and a grand slam in the sixth, finishing one RBI short of the NWL record of nine.
The Emerald hitters gave the AquaSox outfielders extra exercise, connecting on 17 hits, seven for extra bases.
Other than Johnston’s three extra-base hits, Kirkland native Nick Hundley went 4-for-5 with three runs scored. Em’s designated hitter Will Venable, a .149 hitter coming into the game, batted 2-for-4 with two RBI.
But it wasn’t just the Emerald batters that were causing fits for the Sox. Eugene’s pitching was superb, keeping the Sox to only one hit through eight innings.
Starter Brenton Carter (3-2 overall) went six innings allowing one hit, a solo home run to Everett catcher J.B. Tucker.
Tucker’s seventh home run of the season gave the Sox a quick 1-0 lead, but the lead was quickly erased in the second when Eugene scored twice.
In the seventh Adam Gold relieved Carter and continued the Emeralds’ dominant pitching over the Sox hitters.
The Emerald pitchers retired 20 straight and 23 of 24 before Sox outfielder David Hall walked.
For the second straight game Everett faced strong pitching. But unlike their comeback victory over the Emeralds on Tuesday, the Sox were unable to play the comeback kids, despite putting up a late fight.
Down 13-1 in the ninth inning, Alex Gary hit a two-run home run and Everett scored four runs to help make the score less lopsided.
The Sox were led by Tucker, who batted 2-for-4 with two runs scored.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
