Today’s game
Opponent: Vancouver Canadians
When: 7:05 p.m.
Where: Everett Memorial Stadium
Radio: KRKO (1380 AM)
Probable starters: Everett left-hander Anthony Fernandez (8-3, 2.59 ERA) vs. Vancouver right-hander Nathan Long (8-2, 3.10)
Water sports
The weather conditions at Nat Bailey Stadium for Monday’s opening game of the playoff series between Everett and Vancouver weren’t made for baseball, yet the teams managed to get the game in anyway, much to Everett’s delight as the Sox prevailed 9-5 in 10 innings.
Rain overnight and all morning in Vancouver left the field soggy. The tarp managed to keep the infield dry, but the outfield grass was waterlogged and large puddles formed at various locations on the warning track surrounding the field.
And there was no relief during the game as a light rain fell throughout.
“It was wet and it was kind of spitting rain, but it wasn’t too terrible,” Sox center fielder Robbie Anston said. “The field seemed like it played fine. I think the infielders had a little more trouble than the outfielders.”
For a while the game appeared to be in doubt as moderate rain continued up until the tarp came off the infield 30 minutes before the game’s scheduled 1:05 p.m. start. At one point before the game Vancouver pitcher Ryan Quigley emerged from the dugout wearing a makeshift jersey made out of a garbage bag, complete with a “V” on the front and his No. 18 on the back made from tape.
“When I woke up this morning I thought we might not be playing, and we didn’t think it was going to be played until we were told about 12:30 that the game was going to be starting in half an hour,” Anston said. “Sometimes the best games turn out to be the ones you weren’t sure you were going to be playing.”
Sox manager Jose Moreno described the field conditions as similar to those when Boise forfeited a game in Everett on Aug. 7 because of wet conditions, and he commended the grounds crew which worked furiously to keep the field playable. The game’s start was delayed just 13 minutes.
“It wasn’t that bad,” Moreno said. “The outfield was a little wet, but the grounds crew after almost every inning did a good job putting material down. They were on top of it, that was real good.”
Going home
By winning Monday’s Game 1 the Sox didn’t just put themselves in the driver’s seat in the best-of-three series, they relegated the Canadians to the trunk.
Not only do the Sox need to win just once between today’s Game 2 and Wednesday’s Game 3, both games take place at Everett Memorial Stadium where the Sox have been nearly unbeatable. Everett finished 30-8 at home this season, including going 4-for-6 against Vancouver.
Schedule change
The schedule has been slightly altered should the AquaSox win the division series and advance to the league championship series. The championship series would begin Thursday at the winner of the Spokane-Yakima series, with an off day Friday before Games 2 and 3 move to Everett on Saturday and Sunday.
The schedule originally called for the off day to take place between series on Thursday. However, stadium availability in both Spokane and Yakima forced the change.
Short hops
Everett’s 4-0 victory over Vancouver in Sunday’s regular season finale was the Sox’s 49th of the season. That tied the franchise record for wins in a season set by the 1987 Everett Giants. The previous record for wins by an AquaSox team was 44 in 2002, the last time Everett made the playoffs. … Three Sox finished the season with significant streaks. Kevin Mailloux finished the season having reached base in 25 consecutive games, Kevin Rivers finished having reached base in 19 straight, and Terry Serrano ended with a 13-game hitting streak.
Nick Patterson, Herald Writer
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