DuRocher solid in loss to Indians

SPOKANE — On a night when winds gusted between 15-20 miles per hour and thunderstorms were in the forecast, nothing came very easy for the Everett AquaSox.

Everett avoided a rainout but swallowed a tough loss instead.

The Spokane Indians recieved a three-run home run from David Paisano and scored four runs in the fourth inning to grab a 5-2 Northwest League victory Saturday night over the visiting AquaSox.

The win handed the Indians the rubber match in a five-game series that started Tuesday.

Everett (2-3) wasted an impressive performance from relief pitcher Johnny DuRocher, who came in midway through the fourth inning and retired the first 10 batters he faced before an error allowed a Spokane runner to reach base. DuRocher repeatedly coaxed Indian batters to ground out, including three straight groundouts to second base in the sixth, but Everett couldn’t capitalize at the plate. DuRocher didn’t allow a run in 32/3 innings.

With the Frogs clinging to a one-run lead, things fell apart for the AquaSox in the bottom of the fourth, when Tony Butler scored on a fielding error and Paisano hit the game-deciding home run.

Spokane’s Butler singled, then stole second base. After Everett starting pitcher Kenta Suda issued his fifth walk of the game, shortstop George Soto committed a fielding error to allow Butler to score and tie the score at 2.

But the real damage came two batters later, when David Paisano hit a three-run home run to left field, giving Spokane a commanding 5-2 lead.

Spokane starter Wilfredo Boscan, who threw four strikouts, gave up just one earned run.

The AquaSox enjoyed their only lead of the game in the third.

Everett’s Nate Tenbrink hit a line drive RBI single to right field, scoring Tyson Gillies to take a 2-1 advantage.

Suda then quickly retired Spokane’s batters in the bottom of the third, and Everett looked like it was settling in.

Suda (1-0) picked up the loss for Everett. Boscan (2-0) picked up the win for Spokane.