VANCOUVER, B.C. – Named to the Northwest League All-Star team earlier in the day, everything seemed promising for Everett AquaSox ace Shawn Nottingham Monday night.
And everything went nearly perfect for the first six innings as Nottingham had a no-hitter going through six, allowing just two baserunners, both on walks.
That’s until the sixth-inning when newly-named, NWL Most Valuable Player Javier Herrara led off the seventh with a triple, and Vancouver Canadians catcher Landon Powell delivered the a three-run blast that proved to be the game-winning runs in a 3-2 Canadians victory.
The loss pushed the AquaSox, who have lost seven of their last eight, back to 1 1/2 games behind Vancouver in the West division with six games remaining.
Asdrubal Cabrera, the NWL All-Star shortstop, tripled in the second and later scored on Matt Tuiasosopo’s groundout to second base giving Everett a 1-0 lead.
In the second, Brent Johnson doubled, moved to third on Oswaldo Navarro’s sacrifice bunt and scored on Brandon Green’s single to make it 2-0.
While Canadians starter Ryan Ford (4-0) quieted the Frogs hitters, Nottingham kept cruising and it appeared the AquaSox would finally end their late season slump.
Nottingham (9-3), making his second attempt at winning his tenth game, cruised through his first six innings, looking more like a Major League All-Star rather than a NWL All-Star.
He didn’t allow a base runner until the fifth inning and after Richard Robnett walked to follow Herrera’s triple, Nottingham bounced back to strike out Tom Everidge and got Myron Leslie to pop out to Navarro at second base.
Hoping to get ahead in the count, Nottingham threw a first pitch fastball to Powell that ended up over the left-field fence.
It was the first home run in the series and it turned out to be the biggest hit of the series.
Everett (38-32) will come home to face Salem-Keizer (34-36, third in the West).
Vancouver will finish the season with two series against the Eugene Emeralds (21-47).
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