EVERETT — It was appropriate that Wednesday night was Bark at the Park night at Everett Memorial Stadium. As far as the Everett AquaSox’s were concerned, this game was a dog.
The Tri-City Dust Devils devoured the AquaSox like a rabid Doberman, thrashing Everett 18-7 on a night when fans were
allowed to bring their pet pooches to the ballpark.
Wednesday’s game was the first of five between the two hottest teams in the Northwest League. Tri-City had won four in a row, Everett had won three straight, and the teams were leading the East and West divisions, respectively, in the second-half standings.
However, this one was anything but an epic struggle between irresistible forces as Tri-City unloaded on Everett, batting around twice and pounding out 19 hits, nine of which went for extra bases.
“They came out and swung the bat well,” Everett manager Scott Steinmann said of the Dust Devils. “We didn’t pitch that well, of course. We left a lot of balls up and they took advantage. Tip your cap to them tonight and come back tomorrow.”
Tri-City transformed itself into the bomb squad Wednesday. Tri-City had hit just 25 home runs in 52 games previously, but the Dust Devils erupted for four home runs Wednesday, along with two other balls that looked like they might get out but ended up hitting high off the outfield wall.
Jared Simon led the barrage for Tri-City by belting two bombs. He had a mere two homers in 167 at bats coming into the game. David Hernandez and Leonardo Reyes also left the yard as the Dust Devils (11-4 second half, 33-20 overall), feasted on Everett’s bullpen. Tri-City scored 16 runs in 32/3 innings against Sox relievers Bryan Leigh, Nolan Diaz and Jeroen de Haas.
“We usually have pitching games,” said Simon, who finished 5-for-6 with six RBI. “If you know (the Tri-City) park it’s a pitching park. It’s nice to have our bats come alive and win a game for us.”
Hernandez and Timothy Smalling each added 3-for-6 nights for the Dust Devils; Simon and Reyes both scored four times; and Matt Argyropoulos drove in four runs.
Everett also pulled out the power bats, with Jim Wood, Jharmidy De Jesus and Jabari Blash all going deep. However, it was far too little for the Sox (9-6, 25-28), who remained one game ahead of Eugene and Salem-Keizer in the West Division standings.
“We didn’t have it tonight, they did,” Steinmann said. “That’s why you play a lot of games — 76 in this league. There’s always tomorrow.”
Tri-City put the lights out in the contest in the top of the fifth, pushing seven runs across to take a 9-1 lead. Sox starting pitcher Cameron Hobson, making his first start of the season, pitched well during the first four innings, departing the game trailing just 2-1. But Tri-City teed off against Everett’s bullpen.
The Dust Devils’ rally began when Simon slugged his second homer of the game, a three-run shot. Hernandez also homered and Argyropoulos added a three-run double off the left-field wall. Appropriately, the inning ended when Brian Humphries screaming drive to left had to be chased down by Blash at the wall. The game was never again close.
“It’s always good to get the first one under your belt,” Simon said. “We only need to win two more to win the series.”
Ricardo Ferrer picked up the win for Tri-City, allowing five runs in 52/3 innings to improve to 2-3. The Dust Devils stretched their lead in the East Division to four games over Spokane and Boise.
Hobson, who struck out six in his four innings, suffered the loss despite his strong effort. He remained winless at 0-2.
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