Opponent: Tri-City Dust Devils
When: 7:15 p.m. Thursday (Everett is off today)
Where: Dust Devils Stadium in Pasco
Radio: KRKO (1380 AM)
Probable starters: Everett right-hander Ricky Orta (2-2, 4.64 earned run average) vs. Tri-City right-hander Andrew Kreidermacher (3-3, 4.01).
Leading man
Kevin Reynolds has been playing for the Everett AquaSox for barely more than a week, but based on his performance so far the team hopes he sticks around awhile.
Reynolds, a 6-foot-1 outfielder, started slowly at the plate but emerged as a solid leadoff hitter in Everett’s five-game home series against the Spokane Indians. In the first four games against Spokane he was 7-for-18 (.389) and raised his average from .071 to .250.
In Tuesday’s series finale he went 0-for-3 but reached base twice on walks and in the third inning made a spectacular leaping catch at the center-field wall. The catch saved a run, which proved huge in Everett’s 5-4, 10-inning victory.
“He gives us a true center fielder and a guy … who makes us better in the outfield,” Everett manager Dave Myers said.
“You know,” Myers added, “we hadn’t really had a true leadoff guy all year. When (former leadoff hitter Gregory Halman) was here, he was more of a (power and speed guy) and not really an on-base percentage guy.” Halman, who had 15 extra-base hits but walked just three times, was injured in a July 15 fight with Boise and is expected to miss the rest of the season.
“Reynolds just gives us a little added dimension: a guy who can bunt, take a walk, steal a base – those types of things at the top of the lineup that give us a dimension we really haven’t had,” Myers said.
Everett is the fourth Mariners affiliate Reynolds has played for this season. He hopes to stick around awhile. “Just getting those every-day at-bats really helps out with getting comfortable in the box and staying back,” said Reynolds, who still had hair clippings clinging to his forehead and face after buzzing his hair after the game.
His crowd-inspiring catch in the third certainly created some buzz. Said Myers: “I thought he played it perfectly.” Reynolds called it his best catch of the season.
“It was up there pretty good,” he said, “and I thought the wind was going to carry it (up) the wall, but as soon as I got back there it started to come down.” “I just went up for it and fortunately came down with it.”
Rest and relaxation: Everett has a rare off day today and the team plans to rest up, and heal up in some cases. White, a first baseman, plans to “just relax. There’s a lot of guys banged up and it will be a good day to heal some people and just … take a day off.” “There’s only a couple of off days (per season) in this league,” Myers said. “They’re few and far between and you’ve got to enjoy every second of it.”
Quick exit: Spokane starting pitcher Brett Zamzow left the game after throwing just seven pitches, all balls, on Tuesday. The 6-5 right-hander walked Reynolds and threw three balls to Zorn before being examined by a trainer and replaced. Zamzow suffered a forearm strain in his pitching arm, Spokane manager Mike Micucci said, and will be reevaluated today.
Kids incorporated: Young boys and girls filled the bleachers at Everett Memorial Stadium on Tuesday as part of the AquaSox’s Kid’s Day promotion. The youngsters enjoyed several sing-a-longs and intermittently chanted the last names of their favorite Frogs. Mike Stapleton of Marysville and his wife brought two children, Ethan Stapleton, 4, and Sarah Stapleton, 6, to the ballpark. Mike Stapleton, 36, said his family had a great time (“Today is the absolute greatest!”) but he had one suggestion: “I think if they had more (afternoon weekday games) they’d have a great turnout.”
By Mike Cane, Herald Writer
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