EVERETT — With the Everett AquaSox holding a one-run lead in the ninth inning and one strike away from winning, the wheels fell off.
Vancouver’s Rodney Rutherford and Wilfredo Sosa each hit RBI singles in the ninth off Everett reliever Jose Rios and Vancouver defeated Everett 4-3 Thursday night at Everett Memorial Stadium in the final home game of the season for the AquaSox.
The AquaSox fell to 37-36. Today, the AquaSox begin a three-game series at Vancouver (35-38) to end the season.
Rutherford and Sosa each had two strikes, but Rios couldn’t get out of the inning. Rutherford’s single scored Ryan Ortiz from second to tie it 3-3, and Sosa drove in Jose Crisotomo from third base for the 4-3 advantage.
On fan appreciation night, Everett tried to send the crowd of 2,811 happy, but just couldn’t pull it off.
Everett’s James Jones — playing on Thursday at first base — broke a 2-2 tie in the eighth, connecting on a solo home run to right-center field. It looked like that might be the game-winner, before a disastrous ninth.
Everett left-hander Jonathan Hesketh (1-0) was impressive early. He retired the first nine Vancouver batters he faced in order, striking out six. He didn’t surrender a hit until the fourth, when Tyreace House led off with a single by beating out the throw from Everett second baseman Nick Franklin.
Hesketh finished with 11 strikeouts, six hits, two runs and zero walks after being taken out in the eighth with no out.
Matthew Cerione put Everett up early, connecting on his seventh home run of the season for a 1-0 lead in the first.
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