A back and forth affair between the Everett Aquasox and the Eugene Emeralds was a single away from possibly heading into extra innings. Instead, Eugene reliever Josh Richardson escaped a bases loaded jam to narrowly escape an Aquasox comeback, giving the Emeralds a 8-7 victory.
The Aquasox got on the scoreboard early with a run in the bottom of the 1st, but the Emeralds were quick to respond. With two runners on, Eugene third baseman Fernando Perez stepped to the plate and delivered with a 3-run blast to give the Emeralds the early 3-1 lead. The Emeralds’ response was just a preview of the see-saw nature that the rest of the ballgame promised to deliver.
After Everett took one run away from its deficit, first baseman Kyle Petty smacked a two run homer to give the Aquasox a 4-3 lead. Everett would get back on the board with a 5th run in the bottom of the fourth prompting Eugene manager Jim Gabella to make a change at the pitchers spot. Gabella pulled starter Jimmie Brasoban in favor of Erik Cabrera who was 0-7 entering the evening. Cabrera threw 2 innings and allowed a single run to keep the Aquasox at bay and give the Emeralds a chance to take the lead back. Cabrera was the eventual victor on the night giving him his first win on the season.
In the top of the 6th the Emeralds offense went back to work as former first round selection Donovan Tate hit his first RBI of the year to bring the score to 5-4. Then Perez notched his 4th RBI of the night to even the game at 5. Everett responded immediately with a run in the bottom of the frame to take back the lead once again, this time with a score of 6-5.
With the bases loaded in the top of the 7th, first baseman Trae Santos delivered with a bases clearing double to give Eugene a 8-6 lead, one that they would never relinquish back to the Aquasox.
The win is the second in a row for the Emeralds who lost their previous 5 before a win on Friday in the opening game of the series against the Aquasox. Seeking their third consecutive win will be anything but an easy task. Everett starting pitcher Lars Huijer will pitch tomorrow night for the Aquasox who is 7-1 on the year with 1.99 ERA.