By Aaron Coe
Herald Writer
EVERETT – Yes, again.
The Everett AquaSox lost their seventh straight game Wednesday, this time a 14-12 decision in 10 innings to the Vancouver Canadians.
The Frogs looked on their way to ending the streak of pain when they scored four first-inning runs, but the Canadians kept creeping back into the game.
Vancouver stung Everett reliever Russ Morgan for six eighth-inning runs, but the AquaSox rallied in the eighth and ninth innings to tie the score at 12-12.
Everett closed the gap to 12-11 in the eighth, and John Williamson drove in Miguel Villilo from first base with a double in the bottom of the ninth.
During the seven-game slide, the Frogs have lost in a variety of ways. One night, it was the starter. Other days its been the bullpen or offensive and defensive struggles.
Wednesday it was a little bit of everything, including a wild pitch that allowed the winning run to score.
Morgan gave up consecutive singles to start the 10th before being relieved by Daniel Head with runners at first and third. Head walked pinch-hitter Josh Brack intentionally to load the bases with no outs. He then uncorked a wild pitch allowing the winning run to score.
The Canadians got another run when Everett shortstop Jose Lopez nearly started a double play. But the runner was called safe at first to keep the inning alive while allowing a run to score.
Morgan allowed six hits in the streak-aiding eighth inning, including two doubles and a home run as Vancouver took their first lead of the game, 12-8.
Morgan gave up a single and a double to start the eighth. He paid for those hits when second baseman John Cole fielded a ground ball off the bat of Christian Reyes and threw it wide of first base allowing two runs to score. Reyes, who wound up at second on the error, scored on Casey Myers’ base hit. After a single by Dan Johnson, Jason Basil crushed a ball over the center field fence.
The Everett offense, which had been nonexistent in the early innings of six consecutive losses, tagged Vancouver starter Chris Maebus for four runs in the first inning, including Emmanuel Santana’s two-run triple.
Vancouver closed the gap to 4-3 in the third, but things could have been worse for Everett.
Everett starter Phil Cullen struck out the first batter, but loaded the bases by giving up a hit and two walks. Basil re-loaded the bases and drove in a run with a single, and Cullen brought in the second run with a bases loaded walk. The 6-foot-9 right-hander then struck out Joe Cirone and forced J.T. Stots to pop-out. But the 41-pitch inning caused Cullen to be done for the night.
The Everett offense immediately responded in the bottom of the third.
Villilo’s 2-run home run deep into the right field homer porch gave the Frogs a 6-3 lead, but Vancouver scored two in the fourth.
Everett bats to the rescue again.
Cole singled and stole second and third, then jogged home on Greg Dobbs’ single to right-center. Santana struck out swinging, but the third-strike wild pitch sailed past the catcher allowing Santana to reach safely and Lopez to score for an 8-5 lead.
Justin Blood relieved Bauscher in the fifth and pitched the game’s first perfect inning. He added a scoreless sixth, but gave up a homer leadoff homer to Dan Johnson in the seventh.
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