EVERETT – Redemption.
Moments earlier, Marshall Hubbard was wondering whether his mistake in the field was going to be the one that cost the Everett AquaSox the game.
But positioned to be the goat, Hubbard instead became the hero, delivering what proved to be the game-winning two-run single as the AquaSox defeated the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes 6-3 Saturday night in a Northwest League game.
Before the remnants of an Everett Memorial Stadium crowd of 2,414, Hubbard lined a two-run single to center in the bottom of the eighth inning, giving Everett a 4-3 lead and making up for the miscue that helped the Volcanoes take the lead in the top of the inning.
“That felt really good,” Hubbard said. “I needed to make up for what I did in the top of the eighth.
“I was really hoping to be up in a spot in the inning where I could get it back for our team,” Hubbard added. “It just happened to be that spot and it worked out well.”
Hubbard misplayed Brian Horwitz’s fly ball in right field in the top of the eighth for a two-base error, and Horwitz eventually came around to score to break a 2-2 tie. But Hubbard was able to erase that unpleasant memory.
“That was a real big at bat for Marshall Hubbard individually and real big for us as a club,” Everett manager Pedro Grifol said. “No one likes to make errors, and the way he came back and came through says a lot about his character.”
Matt Tuiasosopo added a two-run single later in the inning to provide the final margin as Everett (36-25) won its third straight. The AquaSox remained three games ahead of Vancouver for first place in the West Division. Salem-Keizer fell to 30-31.
“We can’t worry about anyone else,” Hubbard said. “We know if we handle our business things will work out. We have a three-game lead and we’re not playing not to lose, we’re playing to win. We’re an aggressive team and that’s what made us successful, so we’re going to keep doing that to the end.”
AquaSox reliever Terry Forbes got the last five outs to earn the win and improve to 1-0.
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