Frogs’ win finishes off stellar homestand

  • By Nick Patterson / Herald Writer
  • Sunday, July 31, 2005 9:00pm
  • Sports

EVERETT – When the Everett AquaSox returned home for their longest homestand of the season, they were reeling, having seemingly played themselves out of playoff contention.

But now they depart for their next road trip on a high, having pulled themselves back into the race.

Everett received sparkling pitching from Jeff Gilmore and David Asher, Luis Valbuena slugged his fifth home run of the season, and the AquaSox polished off a key homestand by defeating the Tri-City Dust Devils 4-3 in Northwest League action Sunday.

“I don’t care who you are, you’re going to go through a little stretch where your character and makeup are tested,” Everett manager Pedro Grifol said. “We played very poorly during much of that losing streak. But this team showed a lot of character and we saw that some of these kids have a very good future.”

Everett (21-19) came into the eight-game homestand fresh off a five-game skid during which nothing went right. And with Everett losing the first game of the homestand and Vancouver winning every game in sight, the AquaSox looked like a team fated to play spoiler in the second half.

However, Everett won six of the next seven – including four of five from Tri-City (18-22) – and now heads into its five-game series at Yakima just four games behind Vanouver.

“We were coming off five horrendous games where we didn’t pitch and we didn’t hit,” Gilmore said. “So we got back to the basics, which are pitching, defense and situational hitting. This game comes down to pitcher-vs.-hitter battles and in those five games we weren’t winning those. Since then we’ve taken a lot of pride in winning those battles in the big spots.”

Gilmore played a big role in Everett’s turnaround, winning twice during the homestand. Sunday he pitched five quality innings, giving up two runs on five hits and no walks. He struck out eight to improve to 3-0.

“My curveball is kind of like my third pitch, my emergency pitch,” Gilmore said. “My best pitch is my changeup and I usually use my fastball-changeup combination to set the hitters up. When I’m stumped, I go to the curve and luckily it was working today.”

Asher came in and matched Gilmore’s performance. After walking the first batter he faced and hitting the second, he retired 10 straight. In 32/3 innings he gave up one hit and struck out four, leaving the game with one on and two out in the ninth and Everett leading 4-2.

The final out was a little harder to get. Stephen Kahn came in and appeared to get the final out on a liner to right. However, right fielder Mike Saunders lost the ball in the sun and the ball dropped for a double. A walk and a wild pitch brought one run in and left runners at second and third. But Kahn struck Pedro Strop out looking to earn his first save.

Tri-City was led by Daniel Carte, who was 2-for-4 with a solo home run, his third of the season.

“It was a good series,” Tri-City manager Ron Gideon said. “You could tell that we were evenly matched teams. We just got into situations where we didn’t make the pitches when we needed to or made key defensive mistakes.”

Valbuena gave Everett the lead in the bottom of the second, launching a ball into the homer porch in right for a two-run shot, giving Everett a 2-0 lead.

The Sox added to their lead in the third when Jeff Flaig hit a long fly ball to left that carried to the wall, driving Jeff Clement home from first and increasing Everett’s lead to 3-0.

The Dust Devils broke through against Gilmore in the fourth when Michael Paulk lifted a fly ball to right that banged off the wall for an RBI double. Tri-City cut the lead to one in the fifth when Carte skied a solo homer to left, making it 3-2.

Everett got that run back in the bottom of the fifth when Clement drove the ball to the wall in center for a sacrifice fly, making it 4-2.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Stanwood sophomore Addi Anderson (second from right) and the Stanwood infielders -- sophomore Jemma Lopez, senior Rubi Lopez, junior Taylor Almanza and senior Reagan Ryan -- gather in the circle between at-bats during the Spartans' 3-0 win against Roosevelt in the 3A State Softball Round of 16 in Lacey, Washington on May 23, 2025. (Joe Pohoryles / The Herald)
Stanwood softball reaches first state quarterfinal since 2010

Addi Anderson notches 13 strikeouts in 3-0 win against Roosevelt.

The Jackson High School softball team celebrates after defeating Skyline in the first round of the Class 4A state tournament at Columbia Playfields in Richland, Wash. on Friday, May 23, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Kyle Peacocke / Jackson H.S. Athletics)
Prep softball roundup for Friday, May 23

Jackson, Lake Stevens among first-round winners at state.

Shorewood senior Matthew Bereket (right) lunges in to challenge a kick from Central Kitsap freshman Eli Daniels during the Stormrays' 1-0 win in the 3A Boys Soccer State Round of 16 in Shoreline, Washington on May 22, 2025. (Joe Pohoryles / The Herald)
Shorewood boys soccer exorcises playoff demons against Central Kitsap

The top-seeded Stormrays overcome two years of upsets to beat Cougars 1-0 in 3A second round.

The Jackson girls golf team poses with the state championship trophy and sign on the 18th green of Eagle's Pride Golf Course after winning the WIAA 4A State Championship in DuPont, Washington on May 21, 2025. Pictured left to right: Coach Jerome Gotz, freshman Karen Shin, sophomore Kayla Kim, senior Paige Swander, senior Lindsay Catli, sophomore Chanyoung Park and junior Christine Oh. (Joe Pohoryles / The Herald)
Jackson girls golf wins first state title

The Timberwolves turn one-shot lead on back nine into 14-stroke victory for 4A crown.

Prep state tournament results and schedule

Here’s a look at what’s happening this postseason.

Kamiak’s Tristan Kim putts during the 4A District 1 Boys Golf Championship at Legion Memorial Golf Course on Tuesday, May 13, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘Kamiak Flip’ powers Knights boys golf to top-five state finish

Kamiak leverages a strong second round to win hardware as Tristen Kim finishes third individually.

Vote for The Herald’s Prep Athlete of the Week for May 11-17

The Athlete of the Week nominees for May 11-17. Voting closes at… Continue reading

Seahawks rookie safety Nick Emmanwori (3) practices at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton on May 20, 2024. (Photo courtesy of Edwin Hooper / Seattle Seahawks)
Nick Emmanwori is embracing Kam Chancellor comparisons

Will the Seahawks use him the same way?

Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) is congratulated by his teammates after scoring a game-tying basket against the New York Knicks as time expires in the fourth quarter in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, in New York. (Al Bello / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Tyrese Haliburton channels Reggie Miller, Pacers stun Knicks

Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton put both of his… Continue reading

Snohomish’s Griffin Triggs and Chase Clark celebrate getting the final out to beat Bellevue in loser-out opening round 3A state game on Tuesday, May 20, 2025 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Snohomish baseball mounts comeback against Bellevue

The Panthers score five runs in the sixth to win 6-2 and advance to the WIAA second round.

Prep roundup for Tuesday, May 20

Mohr scores twice to lead Wildcats to state second round.

Prep state tournament results and schedule

Here’s a look at what’s happening this postseason.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.