Today’s game
Opponent: Salem-Keizer Volcanoes
When: 7:05 p.m.
Where: Everett Memorial Stadium
Radio: KRKO (1380 AM)
Probable starters: Everett right-hander Nolan Gallagher (0-1, 3.27 ERA) vs. Salem-Keizer left-hander Ari Ronick (4-0, 3.04)
Raben update
It looks as though Dennis Raben is on track to return to the lineup before the season ends.
The Everett outfielder, who has been on the shelf because of a finger injury, is swinging the bat again and he’s hopeful he’ll be back in time to help the Sox during the stretch drive.
“The way I was feeling in the cage today, I feel confident that when I come back I’ll be doing fine,” Raben said.
Raben, the Seattle Mariners’ second-round pick in this year’s draft and the Sox’s most potent offensive weapon, hasn’t played since Aug. 3 because of a sprained joint in the ring finger of his left hand. It is the second time this season he’s missed time because of the injury.
There was some fear that the persistent nature of the injury would end Raben’s season. However, there’s been progress. After remaining in Everett during the Sox’s five-game series in Yakima to undergo treatment, Raben resumed hitting off a tee when the team returned Saturday, taking about 35 swings. Then Wednesday he advanced to taking soft toss, again taking about 35 cuts.
So far so good as Raben hasn’t felt any additional soreness as a result of swinging the bat.
“It’s definitely way better than it was before,” Raben said. “I wouldn’t say it’s 100 percent by any means, I don’t think it will be 100 percent until the offseason and I really have a chance to rest it. But as of right now I think it feels the best it’s going to feel. And being that we only have 15 more games and I’m shooting for the last nine or 10, I think it definitley feels good enough to finish the season.”
If Raben continues to progress the way the Sox hope, he’ll begin facing live pitching in a few days, then should be ready to return Tuesday when Everett begins a three-game home series against Vancouver.
“I can’t wait to get back out there,” Raben said. “I can’t stand watching these games from the bench. But it’s feeling good, I’m real encouraged by that, and hopefully I’ll be back out there soon.”
Edgar in the house: Seattle Mariners legend Edgar Martinez is making an appearance at Everett Memorial Stadium today. The two-time American League batting champion and seven-time all-star will be greeting fans and signing autographs before the game from 6-6:45 p.m., then will throw out the first pitch.
Making up ground: Everett may have had the day off Tuesday, but it didn’t prevent the Sox from gaining on first-place Salem-Keizer. The Volcanoes were blown out by Spokane 13-3 Tuesday night, meaning the third-place Sox picked up a half game to pull within five going into Wednesday’s head-to-head constest.
Speed demons: Everett doesn’t have many players among the league leaders in any of the league’s main statistical categories. But what the Sox do have is two of the top three base stealers in the league. Going into Wednesday night’s game Nate Tenbrink was leading the league in steals with 23 and Tyson Gillies was third with 18. Both also have good success rates, safe on better than 76 percent of their attempts.
As at team Everett had 87 stolen bases, which ranked the Sox second in the league behind Yakima, which had 93.
Nick Patterson, Herald writer
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