Former outfielder pitches AquaSox to 4-1 victory

Herald staff

YAKIMA – It seems as though Jorge Sosa is getting the hang of this pitching thing.

Sosa, a former minor league outfielder for many years in the Colorado Rockies farm system, has found success with the Everett AquaSox as a starting pitcher.

Sosa had his best outing of the year on Monday, throwing seven innings and earning a 4-1 victory over the Yakima Bears.

The Sox (11-10) are once again over the .500 plateau, and have won two in a row. Yakima (12-9) get a day off before meeting up with the AquaSox for another five-game series in Everett.

Sosa (2-0) allowed only one run in seven innings, using good location and a fastball that’s been clocked in the low-to-mid 90’s. He struck out five Bear batters and didn’t walk a man.

Sosa was ready to go out and pitch in the bottom of the eighth inning, but his teammates came through with three runs in the inning and Everett manager Terry Pollreisz decided to hand the game over to the bullpen.

The Frogs had an auspicious beginning to the eighth inning, with Miguel Richardson grounding out to third and Vicente Rosario striking out against Yakima reliever Pete Sekaris.

Next batter Jose Lopez followed with a double to start the rally. Sekaris walked Greg Dobbs to put runners at first and second with two outs and spell his exit from the game.

New Bears pitcher Jonathan Lee walked Eddie Figueroa on four pitches to load the bases and set the table for Sox catcher Emmanuel Santana.

Without having to swing the bat, Santana watched a Lee pitch go sailing past the Yakima catcher to the backstop, allowing Lopez to score and give Everett a 2-1 lead.

Santana then hit a clutch two-run double to extend the Sox lead to 4-1, and give the Everett pen some room to work.

That room wasn’t needed, as Glenn Bott made a strong bid for the AquaSox closer role with two innings of shutout relief.

Bott struck out four Bears and allowed only one hit in earning his second save in as many opportunities.