AquaSox top Canadians in back-and-forth 11-inning contest

HILLSBORO — Cody Grosse hit a go-ahead single in the top of the 11th to give the visiting Everett AquaSox a 6-5 extra-inning win over the Vancouver Canadians in Tuesday night’s series opener at Roy Tonkin Field.

Joseph Rosa started the top of the 11th on second base for the AquaSox, per extra-inning rules. Grosse then led off the frame with a single to center field to bring home Rosa for the game’s deciding run.

Everett reliever Bryan Pall got some help in the bottom of the 11th from center fielder Jack Larsen, who caught a line drive and then threw out a runner at second base for a double play. Pall then induced a game-ending flyout to complete a quick four-pitch save.

In the top of the 10th, recent AquaSox callup Dariel Gomez broke a 3-3 tie with a one-out sacrifice fly. Connor Hoover, the ensuing batter, followed with a solo homer to extend Everett’s lead to 5-3. Hoover also doubled earlier in the night, which extended his hitting streak to 19 games.

The AquaSox (43-22) were one strike away from winning the game in the bottom of the 10th. But with runners on second and third, Vancouver’s Tanner Morris tied the game with a two-out double to send the game to the 11th.

Rosa hit a two-run homer in the fourth inning and was one of five Everett batters with two hits. The AquaSox finished with 13 hits.

Five Everett pitchers — Dayeison Arias, Igor Januario, Franklin Van Gurp, Kyle Hill and Pall — combined to limit Vancouver (32-35) to just five hits.

Arias, who has been dominant out of the bullpen lately, made the first start of his minor league career. The 24-year-old Dominican Republic native allowed two runs — one earned and one unearned — and two hits in 3 2/3 innings pitched.

The AquaSox and Canadians resume their six-game series Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m.