KEIZER, Ore. – Like Hall of Fame catcher Yogi Berra once said, “It ain’t over til’ it’s over.”
And for the Everett AquaSox their pursuit of a postseason berth is still not over.
The AquaSox will live on to play one more meaningful game thanks to their 8-3 victory over the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes Saturday night and the Eugene Emeralds come-from-behind 6-4 win over the Vancouver Canadians.
With the victory Everett gained another game on the Canadians and will go into today’s final game of the season one game back in the Northwest League West division.
An AquaSox victory combined with another Vancouver loss will complete something that seemed almost improbable Thursday night.
Everett entered its weekend series needing to sweep the Volcanoes and have the last place Emeralds take 3 out of 4 from the West leading Canadians.
Aaron Trolia (2-3) gave Everett another strong outing from its starting pitchers.
Trolia pitched 72/3 innings allowing two runs on four hits, and striking out five.
Everett’s starters have held Salem-Keizer to six hits and three runs in the series.
Trolia had a shutout going until he walked two batters with two outs in the eighth.
Brad Rose relieved Trolia and gave up a three-run home run to Salem-Keizer designated hitter Todd Jennings.
The hitters have done their job in the crucial series as well.
Everett finished with 15 hits, the second consecutive night the Sox have finished with double-digits in hits.
Struggling bats contributed to the AquaSox late season slump, which saw Everett go from a 31/2-game lead to falling a game behind Vancouver in the West.
AquaSox left fielder Mike Wilson batted 3-for-4 scoring two runs against Salem-Keizer. It was his third three-hit game of the season – first since June 30.
Five Everett batters finished with two hits or more and Wilson, Yung Chi Chen and Brandon Green all drove in two runs apiece.
For Green it was his team-leading 52nd and 53rd RBI of the season.
It was also the second night in a row the Sox scored eight runs.
More than likely Everett will know its fate when tonight’s game begins. Vancouver’s game in Eugene starts at 2 p.m.
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