VANCOUVER B.C. — If the Everett AquaSox’s 2009 Northwest League season opener was a smash hit, their follow-up was a bit of a dud.
One day after pummeling the Vancouver Canadians in its debut, Everett’s offense fell silent as the Sox fell 3-1 Sunday afternoon.
One night earlier the Sox pounded out 16 hits, including five extra-base knocks, in their 10-1 thrashing of Vancouver in the season opener. But Everett could only manage seven hits, including five soft singles, Sunday.
Three Vancouver pitchers combined to confound the Sox. Starter Ricardo Penalba tossed five scoreless innings, striking out seven to pick up the victory. Jose Guzman got the final four outs to record the save.
Everett received a strong outing from its starter for the second straight night. Left-hander Nick Czyz followed up Taylor Lewis’ winning effort by striking out six in six innings and allowing just one earned run. However, an unearned run also scored on his watch, and that was enough to saddle Czyz with the hard-luck loss.
Rashun Dixon went 2-for-4 with an RBI, and Conner Crumbliss tripled and scored two runs for the Canadians (1-1).
Hawkins Gebbers was 2-for-4 to lead Everett (1-1).
Vancouver grabbed an early lead in the bottom of the first inning, Kent Walton’s double to right scoring Crumbliss from first base to stake the Canadians to a 1-0 lead.
The Sox then handed the Canadians another run in the second. A comedy of throwing errors allowed Gabriel Ortiz to score all the way from first base on Wilfredo Sosa’s bunted popout, making it 2-0.
Everett finally got itself on the board in the eighth. Ryan Royster drew a one-out walk, took third on Gerardo Avila’s single to right, then scored on Kalian Sams’ fielder’s choice grounder.
The Sox nearly took the lead later in the inning, but Welington Dotel’s deep drive with two out and two on was tracked down by Crumbliss against the right-field wall.
Vancouver tacked on an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth, Crumbliss tripling over the head of Sams in center field and scoring on Rashun Dixon’s two-out, 0-2 single, making it 3-1.
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