PASCO — Seon Ji Kim became the fourth consecutive Everett AquaSox starter to go six innings with just one run allowed and the Everett offense got on track early as the Sox never trailed in a 7-2 victory over the Tri-City Dust Devils.
Kim followed Victor Sanchez, Mayckol Guaipe and Dylan Unsworth with a strong starting effort and a night after being limited to two hits, the Sox offense came to life.
Leadoff hitter Jamodrick McGruder set the tone, drawing three walks, scoring a run and working full counts in each of his five plate appearences. Chris Taylor continued his hot start going 2-for-4 and also scored twice. The Sox infielder leads the team with a .462 average. No. 3 hitter Taylor Ard also went 2-for-4 and knocked in two.
Everett quickly jumped on Dust Devils starter Peter Tago in the top of the first. Ard doubled to right-center to score Taylor, who reached on a single. Alfredo Morales followed with another double to score Ard and give the Sox an early 2-0 lead.
The Dust Devils got a run back in the bottom of the first as Kim made a rare mistake, serving up a solo home run to Tri-City’s Charlie Blackmon, to cut the lead to 2-1.
But the Sox immediately responded in the second, scoring four times despite registering just two hits. Everett capitalized on several miscues by Tago. Not only did the Tri-City pitcher issue two walks and hit a batter in the inning, but also threw two wild pitches and committed a throwing error on a pickoff attempt. All those mistakes allowed Everett to score two runs without needing to put the bat on the ball. Taylor and Ard each added RBI singles and the Sox emerged with a commanding 6-1 lead.
That would be all the support Kim needed. The South Korean right-hander scattered four hits, walked one and struck out three to earn the win.
Oliver Garcia closed out the game with a scoreless ninth as the Sox ensured a series win against the Dust Devils by taking three of the first four in the five-game set.
Sox to retire Halman’s number
The AquaSox will retire Greg Halman’s number 26 in a ceremony on June 23. Halman, who died in his native Netherlands at the age of 24 this past November, played two seasons with the AquaSox in 2006-07.
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