KEIZER, Ore. – Jose Yens’ two-out single down the left field line in the 10th inning scored Mark Minicozzi with the winning run, putting the final dagger in the Everett AquaSox’s playoff hopes.
The basehit gave Salem-Keizer a 4-3 victory over the Frogs before a crowd of 2,702 Friday night at Volcano Stadium.
Combined with the Vancouver Canadians’ comeback win over Eugene, Everett’s loss drops them four games back of Vancouver and Salem-Keizer with just five to play.
Since the Canadians and Volcanoes meet each other for three games to end the season, it is mathematically impossible for the Frogs to make up the ground to win the Western Division.
It appeared the game wouldn’t even reach extra innings, but Everett center fielder Casey Craig’s one-out opposite field double off left-fielder Ben Copeland’s glove scored Jeff Flaig and Mike Saunders to knot the score in the Everett ninth.
Salem-Keizer played small ball to open the scoring in the fourth inning. With one out, designated Yens was plucked by a Robert Rohrbaugh pitch, promptly moving to second on a Danny Santin passed ball. After Pablo Sandoval’s groundout to second moved Yens to third, Joey Dyche rapped a single to right to make it 1-0.
Two more runs came across for S-K in the fifth. Chris Stanton led off with an infield single. Ben Copeland’s single moved Stanton to third. Mike Mooney looped a single just over second baseman Luis Valbuena’s head. to bring home Stanton and move Copeland to third. Mike Minocozzi’s sacrifice fly drove in Copeland making it 3-0.
Robbie Hudson’s leadoff walk led to a Frog run in the sixth. Following back-to-back strikeouts, Reed Eastley smacked a single to short center. Jeff Flaig’s sharp single to right brought Hudson scampering around to close the gap to 3-1, where it stayed until the ninth.
Tonight’s game will pit AquaSox left-hander Paul Fagan against Volcano right-hander Joey Martinez. First pitch is 7:05 p.m.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
