Then dazzles on mound, but AquaSox fall to Hawks 4-1

EVERETT — Juan Then, the Seattle Mariners’ No. 16 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, fanned a season-high eight batters and allowed one run on two hits over five innings, but didn’t factor into the decision, as the Boise Hawks knocked off the Everett AquaSox, 4-1, in the second game of a three-game series on Tuesday at Funko Field at Everett Memorial Stadium.

“He was locating his fastball really good and his curveball and changeup were working and keeping hitters off balance,” Everett manager Jose Moreno said. “He pitched five strong innings for us and (gave us) the opportunity (to keep) the game close.”

Then, who was reacquired by Seattle in the Edwin Encarnacion trade to the New York Yankees on June 15, has struck out 15 batters over his past two starts, good for 13.5 strikeouts-per-nine innings.

The 19-year-old right-hander was originally signed by the Mariners as an international free agent out of the Dominican Republic in 2016 and was eventually traded in November of 2017, along with JP Sears, for Nick Rumbelow, who was released by the Mariners three days before Then rejoined Seattle’s organization.

Boise grabbed the lead in the third on Isaac Collins’ RBI double, but Trent Tingelstad tied it up with a RBI double of his own in the fourth to score Patrick Frick.

The Hawks snagged the lead for good in the seventh, as Collins smacked a two-run triple off his college teammate at Creighton, Everett reliever Evan Johnson, and Ezequiel Tovar singled him in to put Boise up 4-1.

Collins recorded three RBI with a double and a triple to lead the Hawks.

Tingelstad recorded two hits, with a double and the RBI for the AquaSox.

Johnson was tagged with the loss after allowing three runs over three innings of relief.

Will Tribucher earned the win after two hitless innings of relief and Jacob Wallace pitched the ninth to earn the save.

Boise starter Frederis Parra allowed one run, unearned, on five hits over six innings.

Next up

Everett wraps up its three-game series with Boise at 7:05 p.m. Wednesday in the rubber match. Postgame fireworks will be set off for the team’s Independence Day celebration.