EVERETT – Brian Schweiger’s opportunities have come few and far between this season. The Everett AquaSox catcher is firmly ensconced as the backup to Omar Falcon and seeing his name on the lineup card is a rarity.
But in those rare moments when given his chance, Schweiger has made the most of it. And Sunday afternoon he illustrated that once again.
Schweiger drove in four runs, leading the AquaSox to a 7-6 victory over the Eugene Emeralds and a sweep in the three-game Northwest League series.
Before a crowd of 4,592 at Everett Memorial Stadium, Everett starting pitcher Aaron Jensen threw seven strong innings and the AquaSox survived a major scare in the ninth, when the Emeralds scored twice and left the bases loaded.
Schweiger provided offense at the most pivotal times. Schweiger gave the AquaSox the lead for good with a two-run single in the bottom of the fourth inning, making it 4-3. He then added some crucial insurance in the bottom of the eighth with a two-run home run, which gave Everett a three-run cushion – a much-needed commodity after Eugene rallied in the ninth.
In 24 games, Schweiger is now batting .327, slugging .577 and has an on-base percentage of .485.
“I just go in and play hard every game,” Schweiger said. “Every chance I get I play hard. It’s what Pedro (Grifol, the AquaSox manager) and I talked about, to be prepared every day and work hard every day.”
The Emeralds made it interesting in the ninth. Orlando Diaz singled in two runs with one out to cut the lead to one and Eugene loaded the bases with two out. But reliever Mark Lowe got Ernesto Garay to pop out to center to end the game. Lowe ended up with the save, his fifth.
The series sweep was just what the doctor ordered for the West Division-leading AquaSox (32-24), who struggled in their last series at Spokane but now have momentum heading into a week of games against second-place Salem-Keizer. The teams begin a three-game series at Salem-Keizer today, then return to Everett for a three-game series beginning Friday.
“Just winning games is huge for us,” Schweiger said. “We wanted to get on the winning track to play Salem-Keizer. They’re in second place and it will be a tough series coming up.”
Everett won 10 of its 12 contests against Eugene (19-37) this season.
Jensen had a strong outing that was blemished by just two moments, which resulted in Matt Thayer’s three-run homer and Diaz’s solo shot. He pitched seven innings, giving up four runs – three earned – on five hits and one walk, striking out six. At one point Jensen retired 13 straight batters.
Jensen improved his record to 6-2.
“I thought I pitched good, besides the two bombs,” said Jensen, who noted that he had his fastball and slider working.
“I felt I had them off balance at times,” Jensen added. “When we had a couple zeroes on the board, I thought I did pretty good through those innings.”
For the third straight game the AquaSox got on the board in the first inning. This time Oswaldo Navarro worked a walk, stole second and scored when Brandon Green rolled a single up the middle, staking Everett to a 1-0 lead.
But Eugene took the lead in the second. Chris Kolkhorst singled and advanced to third when left fielder Casey Craig dropped Ernesto Garay’s fly ball down the line for a two-base error. Thayer followed with a line-drive homer to dead center field – his third of the season – to give the Emeralds a 3-1 advantage.
Everett regained the lead in the fourth on four straight hits. After Mike Wilson and Matt Tuiasosopo drew one-out walks, Brent Johnson dumped a double into right to drive in one run, Schweiger lined a single to left-center to score two, Marshall Hubbard doubled off the left-field wall to put runners at second and third, and Trevor Heid singled to left to chase home the final run as Everett went ahead 5-3.
Eugene closed within one in the seventh when Diaz lined a homer off the Speedway sign in left, his third of the season, to make it 5-4.
Everett then added some insurance in the eighth when Schweiger hit a two-run homer to left to increase the lead to 7-4. It was Schweiger’s third of the year.
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