Tadpole makes big splash

EVERETT – Not even the arrival of Matt Tuiasosopo could snap the Everett AquaSox out of their current malaise.

The Seattle Mariners’ top pick in the 2004 draft made his debut for the AquaSox on Thursday night, but he was unable to change Everett’s fortunes as the AquaSox fell 7-2 to the Eugene Emeralds before a crowd of 2,338 at Everett Memorial Stadium.

Tuiasosopo, who wore out the Arizona Rookie League in 20 games with Peoria, was called up Thursday and arrived in Everett at 1:30 p.m. Starting at designated hitter and batting sixth in the lineup, he drove in both of Everett’s runs with a pair of bloop singles. However, the AquaSox (25-21) were able to generate little else.

Tuiasosopo finished 2-for-4, striking out in each of his first two at bats. He also had to fight his way through a throng of autograph seekers after the game.

“It’s fun, I’m enjoying it,” Tuiasosopo said.

“The first at bat I was just trying to see some pitches and their starter (Joel Santo) pitched a good game, his ball was moving a bit,” Tuiasosopo added. “I was just trying to see some pitches and get a feeling for playing here. I finally got a couple of blooper hits – that was the first time I’ve ever broken a bat – and it was good to get those RBIs.”

Unfortunately for the AquaSox, those RBI hits came too little, too late. The Emeralds (17-29) led 7-0 before Tuiasosopo’s bloop single to right in the bottom of the sixth inning brought home Mike Wilson with Everett’s first run. Tuiasosopo had a broken-bat single in to center in the seventh, again driving in Wilson.

“I thought it was OK,” Everett manager Pedro Grifol said of Tuiasosopo’s debut. “They pitched him tough and his last two at bats he got himself a couple of broken-bat hits. I think he needed those two and he needed to get one (game) out of the way. Now he can relax and play his game.”

Tuiasosopo hopes so, too.

“The whole environment is a lot different, especially the crowds,” Tuiasosopo said. “We’d have five people in the stands in Peoria. Here you have a lot of fans and friends in the stands and it was good to get that first game in. Hopefully now I’ll feel comfortable.”

The AquaSox hope Tuiasosopo settles in soon. Everett went into the All-Star break having lost four of its last five. It was hoped that the addition of Tuiasosopo, along with the two-day rest afforded by the All-Star game would change Everett’s momentum. Instead, the Everett offense bogged down and mistakes in the field cost runs.

“They handed it to us,” Grifol said. “They came out and outplayed us. We made some mistakes and came up short.”

Everett starter Aaron Jensen, who started for the West Division at the Northwest League All-Star Game on Tuesday in Spokane, struggled. The right-hander, who came into the game 4-1, lasted just 41/3 innings, giving up five runs on seven hits and a walk, striking out two.

Eugene opened the scoring in the top of the first inning when Chris Kolkhorst led off with a double and later came around to score on Colt Morton’s sacrifice fly to give the Emeralds a 1-0 lead.

The Emeralds increased their lead to 3-0 in the third. Ernesto Garay drove in the first run with a double off the right-center wall. Then when Morton’s smash off Jensen’s leg resulted in an out, Eugene runners Sean Kazmar and Garay were both caught at third base. Everett first baseman Brandon Green chased Garay to third and thought he made the tag. However, Garay was called safe and in the meantime, Kazmar raced home with Eugene’s third run.

Eugene then took command in the fifth, thanks to a series of unusual events. Garay and Tom Vincent each hit high hoppers over a drawn in infield for RBI singles, and another run scored when second baseman Asdrubal Cabrera dropped a throw during a rundown between second and first. Billy Hogan added and RBI fielders choice as the Emeralds went ahead 7-0.

Everett finally snapped the shutout in the bottom of the sixth when Tuiasosopo flared a ball to right for an RBI single, making it 7-1. However, the AquaSox then loaded the bases with one out and were unable to score further.

Tuiasosopo had another soft RBI single in the seventh when he snapped his bat in half while dumping the ball into center field, cutting the lead to 7-2.