EVERETT – Like two prizefighters in the middle of a boxing match, the Everett AquaSox and Tri-City Dust Devils matched hit for hit, neither team wanting to relinquish its belt, or in this case its multi-game winning streak.
The AquaSox delivered the last blow with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly by Wellington Dotel in the bottom of the ninth inning that gave the Frogs a 5-4 victory in a Northwest League game at Everett Memorial Stadium Friday night.
The victory gave the AquaSox (19-25) their fifth straight victory and ended Tri-City’s (18-26) winning streak at six.
“We’re playing well,” AquaSox manager Mike Tosar said.
“We’re getting a good combination of pitching, timely hitting and playing solid defense. Anytime you do those three things you got a pretty good chance of winning a ballgame.”
Dotel made up for a costly sixth-inning error that contributed to one Dust Devils run by driving in the most important run of the night – the game-winner that scored second baseman Roberto Mena from third base.
Mena had singled, stole second and moved to third on an Ogui Diaz single to right.
“That’s when it’s fun,” Tosar said, referring to the ninth inning dramatics. “You want to be in that situation; the hitter wants to be in that situation to win the ballgame.”
Before the ninth Everett relied on its big boys from the Netherlands to provide the offense. Gregory Halman, one of the top hitters in the Northwest League batted 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBI and fellow countryman Kalian Sams hit two home runs, staking the Sox to a 3-0 lead.
“They’re two guys that have tremendous talent. Their ability is something a lot of players would like to have and both of these guys, when they get focused and understand the game, are going to be solid ballplayers,” Tosar said.
Halman’s home run was his ninth of the season and tied him with Tri-City’s Darin Holcomb for the NWL lead. He also leads the league in total bases and slugging percentage and is third in batting.
Halman singled in Everett’s third run in the fifth. Jermaine Brock doubled earlier in the inning, pulling back a bunt attempt before kicking up white dust with a drive down the left field foul line.
“It was a slash hit-and-run and it worked right on the money. Perfectly executed,” Tosar said.
Doug Salinas went six solid innings, allowing three runs, two earned, on five hits and striking out eight.
Aaron Brown (2-0) picked up the win in relief pitching 11/3 shutout innings.
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