EVERETT – Whether it’s a measure of intestinal fortitude, an incredible string of luck or some sort of mystical force of nature, the Boise Hawks just seem to have the Everett AquaSox’s number in the final inning this season.
Boise rallied for six runs in the top of the ninth inning, erasing a two-run deficit, and the Hawks once again defeated the AquaSox in their final at bat, winning 8-4 Monday night in the opener of their five-game Northwest League series.
An Everett Memorial Stadium crowd of 1,711 watched in horror as Boise used six hits, a walk and an error to completely turn a game that seemed in Everett’s control.
“It had nothing to do with them, it was about us not executing when we had to,” Everett manager Pedro Grifol said. “We had a ball go through our first baseman’s glove that broke the glove. We were up 4-2 and had a chance to extend the lead and didn’t. The game’s not won or lost in the last inning, it’s won or lost in the other eight.”
And yet, Boise’s made a habit of beating Everett in the final inning. When the teams played earlier in the year at Boise, the Hawks won four of five, all four wins coming in their final at bat.
“I think this team doesn’t believe it’s ever out of the game,” Boise manager Tom Beyers said. “That’s bred in the clubhouse and tonight we came through. I thought the guys executed well in the ninth. We were able to get a good bunt down and had good situational hitting with runners in scoring position.
“What happened in Boise is over,” Beyers added, dismissing any magical carryover from the previous series against Everett. “It was just nice to pick up the first win in the series.”
Everett (37-26) had its four-game winning streak snapped. The loss was just the AquaSox’s second in their last 10 games. Boise improved to 34-29.
For eight innings the AquaSox had the game well in hand. Everett scored four runs in the first three innings and the Hawks managed just two unearned runs against Everett starting pitcher Jason Snyder.
But it all unraveled in the ninth. Everett reliever Terry Forbes, who pitched a perfect eighth, faced six batters in the ninth and was unable to record an out. Ryan Harvey, Kyle Boyer and Ryan Norwood began the inning with consecutive singles – Boyer’s drive shredding Everett first baseman Brandon Green’s glove – to cut Everett’s lead to 4-3. Then after Forbes bobbled Oscar Bernard’s bunt for an error to load the bases, a single by pinch hitter David Gresky tied it and a bases-loaded walk issued to Alfredo Francisco forced home the go-ahead run.
The Hawks tacked on three more on a two-run single by Jasha Bascom off reliever Roman Martinez and a wild pitch.
The loss spoiled a strong start by Snyder, who gave up six hits in seven innings. He walked none and struck out six.
Reid Willett (1-0) pitched the final 11/3 innings for Boise to earn the win. Forbes took the loss to drop to 1-1.
Everett took the lead in the bottom of the first. Brent Johnson grounded a one-out single to left, advanced to second on pitcher Matt Weber’s balk, then scored on Asdrubal Cabrera’s soft liner to center, giving the AquaSox a 1-0 advantage.
The AquaSox doubled their lead in the second. Matt Tuiasosopo was hit by a pitch, stole second, then scored when Mike Wilson bounced a single into center, increasing the lead to 2-0.
Everett doubled its lead again in the third. Casey Craig walked and Johnson singled and stole second, putting runners at second and third. With one out Green singled to right, scoring Craig. Then Green was caught stealing, but Johnson scored on the play to make it 4-0.
But Boise got those two runs back in the fifth. Norwood reached on shortstop Cabrera’s error and Jose Rios singled to put runners at the corners. Francisco followed with a double to the left-center gap, scoring Norwood, and when Cabrera was unable to handle the relay throw, Rios also scored to cut the lead to 4-2.
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