YAKIMA – Everything appeared set for an Everett AquaSox run at first place in the Northwest League’s West Division. The Sox rode a seven-game winning streak into their five-game series against the Yakima Bears, the team with the worst record in the league, and Everett was gaining on first-place Salem-Keizer.
Just one problem. The Bears aren’t cooperating.
Everett lost for the third time in four games in Yakima on Thursday night, and the Sox fell further out of the race thanks to a 4-0 defeat.
Everett managed a paltry three hits as the Sox (25-32) were shut out for the first time this season.
More importantly, Everett fell to 6 1/2 games behind division-leading Salem-Keizer, which beat Vancouver 8-1 Thursday. The Sox have just 19 games to make up that deficit, though those 19 games include six head-to-head matchups.
Knuckleballer Houston Summers stymied Everett’s bats, tossing six scoreless innings. Meanwhile, Yakima scored all four of its runs in the first three innings and coasted home from there.
David Cooper scored twice and Anthony Smith drove in two runs for Yakima (20-37).
Luis Nunez had two of Everett’s three hits, and Tyson Gillies added a triple for the Sox, who try to salvage the final game of the series tonight.
Everett starting pitcher Nolan Gallagher had his roughest outing since joining the Sox in late July. The right-hander gave up four runs (three earned) in three innings. He struck out five.
For the second straight night Yakima grabbed the lead in the bottom of the first inning, but this time the Bears received a little help. Cooper scored from third when Gallagher’s pickoff attempt at first hit Jimmy Principe and scooted away. Then Principe later scored on a wild pitch, giving Yakima a 2-0 lead.
The Bears doubled their lead in the third on Smith’s soft two-run single to center, making it 4-0.
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