What a difference a week can make.
Nine days ago, the Everett AquaSox were riding high in first place in the Northwest League’s West Division, sporting a four-game winning streak and sitting 31/2 games ahead of the second-place Vancouver Canadians.
But after losing seven of eight in recent series against Boise and Vancouver, the AquaSox suddenly find themselves playing the role of the hunter rather than the hunted. Going into Tuesday night’s games, the AquaSox trailed the Canadians by 1 1/2 games with six games remaining.
“Our intensity level is up, we’ve been playing good ball, we’re just getting beat,” Everett manager Pedro Grifol said. “We’ve had a string of bad luck in combination with the other clubs playing well and we just got beat.”
For the AquaSox, who led the West Division the entire season, their final two series represent a role reversal as Everett must now do the chasing.
“We don’t change at all,” Everett manager Pedro Grifol said about the AquaSox’s new role. “We’ve got to go out there and do our thing every day. Whether we’re ahead or behind, we’ve got to go do our thing. Nothing changes as far as I’m concerned. We’ve got to go out there ready to play every single day whether we’re up three, down three or tied.”
The AquaSox find themselves in this position mainly because their bats have fallen silent. Everett scored just 16 runs in their eight games against Boise and Vancouver.
“Pitchers are doing a real good job,” Everett designated hitter Matt Tuiasosopo said. “We’re not making adjustments. We’re just not coming up with the big hit when we need it. “
The remaining schedule for Everett and Vancouver presents some good news and bad news for the AquaSox. The good news is that the AquaSox’s final six games are against Salem-Keizer, a team Everett went 5-1 against in the teams’ first two series. The bad news is Vancouver finishes with seven games against Eugene, the team with the worst record in the league.
“This is what it’s all about,” Tuiasosopo said. “You wouldn’t want it any other way. If we get in (to the playoffs), it’s because we earned it. This is what competing is all about. So hopefully we’ll come together as a team and get the job done.”
Buzz night part II: Jay Buhner is going to try again, and hopefully this time it will be without the rain.
The rain makeup of Buhner Buzz Night at Everett Memorial Stadium is scheduled for tonight. Buhner, the former Seattle Mariners All-Star outfielder, will be on hand to throw out the first pitch. Buhner Buzz Night was originally scheduled for Aug. 6, but was rained out.
MVP: Vancouver outfielder Javier Herrera was named the Northwest League’s Most Valuable Player in a vote conducted by the league’s managers.
Through Monday’s games, Herrera was batting .343 with 11 home runs and 44 RBI and 20 stolen bases.
Two AquaSox joined Herrera on the 13-player All-Star team. They are left-handed pitcher Shawn Nottingham, who is 9-3 with a 3.22 ERA and a league-leading 85 strikeouts, and infielder Asdrubal Cabrera, who through Monday was batting .270 with five homers and 39 RBI.
Nick Patterson, Herald writer
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