VANCOUVER, B.C. – Some games come down to which team has the last offensive chance.
Friday’s Northwest League baseball game between the Everett AquaSox and the Vancouver Giants came down to which team made the last defensive mistake.
Everett committed a season-high five errors – the go-ahead run scored on a wild pitch – and the AquaSox fell to the Canadians 4-2 in the rubber game of their three-game series.
Vancouver (18-6) increased its lead over Everett (12-12) in the West Division to six games.
Mike Saunders was the only AquaSox player with more than one hit. He went 2-for-3 with an RBI.
Neither team played well in the field. Vancouver committed two errors of its own, leading to both of Everett’s runs. Five of the six runs in the game were unearned.
Everett’s most-critical mistakes came in the bottom of the eighth inning. With the score tied 2-2, the Canadians loaded the bases with two out. AquaSox relief pitcher Edgar Guaramato then unleased a wild pitch, allowing Mike Massaro to score from third. Then, when catcher J.B. Tucker’s throw to the plate was errant, Haas Pratt also came around to score, giving Vancouver a 4-2 lead.
The defensive breakdowns spoiled a strong effort by starting pitcher Justin Thomas, who was partially to blame with two errors of his own. The left-hander gave up two unearned runs on six hits in 62/3 innings, walking none and striking out four en route to a no decision. Guaramato took the loss to fall to 0-2.
Vancouver starter Michael Madsen went six innings, giving up two unearned runs on three hits and a walk and striking out three. Reliever Brad Davis earned the win, improving to 3-1 with two scoreless innings. Brad Kilby picked up the save, his fourth.
Vancouver scored first in the bottom of the third. Jeff Bieker beat out an infield single, then the return throw to Thomas got away and rolled out of play, allowing Bieker to take third. Isaac Omura followed with a single to right, staking the Canadians to a 1-0 lead.
Everett struck back with two in the top of the fifth. Tucker reached on an error, stole second, then scored when Alex Gary launched a ball off the top of the left-field wall for a double, Everett’s first hit of the game. Gary then scored on Saunders’ single to left, giving the AquaSox a 2-1 advantage.
But the AquaSox gave a run right back in the bottom of the fifth. With runners on first and second and two out, Justin Sellers grounded a ball to first baseman Reed Eastley. Sellers beat Thomas to the bag, who then bobbled the throw. Shawn Callahan headed home and Thomas threw the ball over the head of Tucker, allowing Callahan to score and tie the score at 2-2.
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