EVERETT — Upon first glance at the Everett AquaSox lineup card Wednesday night, it appeared Everett’s offense was in for a rough night, considering four of the Sox’s best bats were nowhere to be found.
Go figure.
Everett’s short-handed lineup produced the Sox’s best offensive output this season in a 9-4 victory over the Eugene Emeralds at Everett Memorial Stadium.
The Sox (12-17) matched a season high in runs and set a season high with 16 hits while salvaging the final game of the series after losing the first two.
And they did it without their big guns.
“That’s huge. When we don’t have Travis (Howell) or Dennis (Raben) in the lineup you’re kind of thinking, ‘Who’s going to produce for us?’” said center fielder Ryan Royster, who went 3-for-4 including a crucial three-run double.
“But everyone stepped up and did their part. Whoever goes out on the field, you’ve just got to go out and play. Guys get injured, guys are in slumps, whatever. You’ve just got to respond and pick up the slack.”
Everett’s offense hasn’t been anything special this season, and with its three leading hitters (Raben, Kevin Reynolds, Howell) as well as top home run hitter (Nate Tenbrink) out of the lineup, runs figured to be in short supply for the Sox, particularly against Eugene pitcher Greg Vandel, who came into the game with good numbers.
But the so-called second-string Sox scored early and often, pounding out seven runs on 10 hits during the first three innings to take control of the game.
In addition to Royster, Everett received big nights from Luis Nunez (4-for-5), Ben Billingsley (3-for-4 with a homer) and Brandon Fromm (2-for-4 with a homer).
“I tried to give some days off, and we have some injuries, also,” Everett manager Jose Moreno explained. “So, I gave some chance to the players, and they know we can count on them. We have a lot of guys who can use their legs, we put some pressure on the bases and that was real good for us today.”
The biggest challenge facing the makeshift Everett lineup came in the bottom of the first inning. Sox starting pitcher Aaron Brown had all kinds of problems in the top of the first as the Emeralds took a 3-0 lead.
But the Sox countered with four of their own in the bottom of the inning. Manelik Pimentel drove in the first run on a groundout. Then with the bases loaded, Royster doubled off the wall in left-center, clearing the bases and giving the Sox a 4-3 lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
“Our pitcher had a little tough time in the first inning, got down on himself, and the team rallied around him to pick him up,” Royster said. “He did a great job sticking with it and we got runs for him and that’s what it’s all about, playing as a team.”
Brown, who walked four batters in the top of the first, settled down and gave Everett three scoreless innings before departing. The Sox bullpen, much maligned in recent games, was solid. Christian Staehely, Brad Reid and Phil Hann prevented any drama the rest of the way. Staehely was credited with the win to improve to 2-0.
Vandel took the loss for Eugene (11-18). Blake Tekotte led the Emeralds offense, going 2-for-4.
The top of the first inning was a complete disaster for the Sox as the Emeralds scored three runs without really having to do anything. Brown walked four; right fielder Welington Dotel misplayed a single, the resulting two-base error leading to Eugene’s first run; and runs scored on a passed ball and a wild pitch.
But it was all Everett from there. After taking the lead in the bottom of the first, the Sox added one in the second and two in the third. Billingsley cranked a solo shot to right-center in the second, his second homer of the season. Then in the third Anthony Phillips hit an RBI triple to right-center and scored on Billingsley’s bunt single.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
