Frogs rally, then fade away in the ninth

EVERETT — The Everett AquaSox had it in their grasp.

After falling behind by three runs, the Sox scratched and clawed themselves back over four innings, finally taking 4-3 lead in the bottom of the eighth for an apparent come-from behind victory against Spokane.

But as has been the case on far too many occasions for Everett this season, the Sox were unable to seal the deal.

The Indians rallied in the top of the ninth, and the Sox fell 5-4 Sunday afternoon in a game played before a sparse crowd at Everett Memorial Stadium, owing to a start delayed one hour and 42-minutes by rain.

Spokane’s Dennis Guinn hit a score-tying triple and scored on Matt West’s single in the top of the ninth as Everett’s bullpen once again failed to hold a lead.

And it’s become an all-too-familiar refrain for Everett manager Jose Moreno.

“We’ve had the same problem all year,” a frustrated Moreno said. “The relievers, we have to do something, they have to make the adjustments.

“Every time we have the game on the line by one or two runs, something happens with the bullpen,” Moreno continued. “I don’t know if they feel the pressure and try to be too fine or give too much credit to the hitters, because their process is completely different when we have the game on the line.”

Sunday’s culprit, Brad Reid, was a perfect example of that concept. Reid entered the game in the eighth with the Sox trailing 3-2 and tossed a 1-2-3 inning. Then after Everett took the lead things broke down in the ninth.

It began when Reid walked leadoff batter Joey Butler. After Reid retired Eric Fry on a comebacker, Guinn sliced a fly ball down the right-field line. Dennis Raben gave chase but came up short, the ball getting past him and bouncing all the way to the wall for a triple, tying the game.

Then West stepped up to the plate and with the infield drawn in, he scorched a liner right back up the middle. Reid deflected it with his glove, redirecting the ball past second baseman Ben Billingsley for the game-winning hit.

It didn’t help Everett’s cause that as snake bitten as the Sox have been this season, Spokane’s been equally charmed.

“We’ve been pretty good at that all year,” Spokane manager Tim Hulett said. “When the other team scores we’ve been able to put up some runs as well. We got the first guy on and the guys did a good job of hitting after that.”

Spokane’s ninth-inning rally nullified Everett’s eighth-inning burst. Trailing 3-2 the Sox began the eighth with the unlikely rally-starting strikeout as Anthony Phillips reached when strike three went to the backstop. Raben singled and Manelik Pimentel walked, loading the bases. Kevin Reynolds grounded into a double play to plate the tying run, then Nate Tenbrink singled to give Everett what proved to be a short-lived lead.

Doug Hogan finished 4-for-4 for Spokane (30-10) and 18-year-old wunderkind Wilfredo Boscan threw five strong innings for the Indians, walking none and striking out seven. Juan Peralta earned the save, pitching a perfect ninth.

Brandon Fromm homered and Raben finished 2-for-3 for Everett (16-24).

Following the lengthy delay, Spokane wasted little time getting on the scoreboard. One out into the game Kyle Higgins and Mike Bianucci smacked back-to-back doubles, giving the Indians a 1-0 lead.

The Indians then went ahead 3-0 in the second amid some confusion. Koncel lined a drive off the wall above the scoreboard in right center, the ball hitting above a yellow line that the umpires used to rule it a home run.

The ground rules historically have not stipulated the yellow line as a home-run line — it’s not even a painted line but the edge of an old advertisement underneath the current one, and that particular part of Everett Memorial Stadium is not in need of power assistance as the short fence in right-center is the best homer spot in the Northwest League. But Moreno confirmed that’s the way the rules have been interpreted this season, though the Everett players stood around bewildered as Koncel circled the bases.

The two-run shot, Koncel’s first of the season, made it 3-0.

Everett got on the board in the fifth when Fromm just cleared the fence in right-center for a solo homer, his second of the season cutting the deficit to two. The Sox then pulled within one in the sixth on Reynolds’ RBI single.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Lake Stevens players celebrate to beating Eastlake in the 4A district semifinal game to advance to the final on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lake Stevens volleyball team advances to state semifinal

Prep volleyball roundup for Friday, Nov. 22.

Lake Stevens’ Noelani Tupua jumps in the air after scoring with teammate Cora Jones during the 4A state playoff game against Richland on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lake Stevens soccer team advances to state championship game

The Vikings will take on Woodinville in Saturday’s Class 4A title game.

Lake Stevens’ Kolton Matson runs onto the field with his teammates before the start of the 4A state playoff game against Mead on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
3 area teams hit the road for state football quarterfinals

Arlington, Lake Stevens, Archbishop Murphy all vie for a trip to Husky Stadium.

Lake Stevens players cheer before the start of the 4A state playoff game against Richland on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘Beginning of something glorious, the end of something beautiful’

Lake Stevens girls soccer play Issaquah in state semifinals on Friday.

Lake Stevens players and head coach Kyle Hoglund celebrate a point during the 4A district semifinal game on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
State volleyball: Capsules for local 4A, 3A teams

A glance at the six area teams competing at the state tournaments.

Glacier Peak’s Ava Nowak points to teammate Lucy Cornelius for setting her up for the point during the game against Jackson on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Class 4A and 3A state volleyball tournament schedules

Lake Stevens, Snohomish and other local teams shoot for titles at the SunDome in Yakima.

Vote for The Herald’s Prep Athlete of the Week for Nov. 10-16

The Athlete of the Week nominees for Nov. 10-16. Voting closes at… Continue reading

Photo courtesy of Edwin Hooper / Seattle Seahawks
Seahawks nose tackle Jarran Reed (90) practices on Thursday, Nov. 21 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton.
Jarran Reed demanding ‘Legion of Boom’ mentality

A rookie for the Seahawks in 2016, the defensive tackle has become a leader.

Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani is the winner of the National League Most Valuable Player award after he became the first player in MLB history to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in the same season. (Keith Birmingham / Orange County Register / SCNG / Tribune News Services)
Ohtani, Judge are named MLB’s most valuable players

Yankees star wins in the AL, Dodgers phenom takes home the NL award.

Pedro de la Vega back in rhythm just in time for Sounders

Seattle prepares for Western Conference semifinal against LAFC

WSU looks for better play from its safeties

Better defensive backfield play a key for Cougs against Oregon State.

On Wednesday, the day he turned 28 years old, Tigers ace Tarik Skubal was named the American League Cy Young Award winner for 2024 by a vote of the Baseball Writers Association of America. (Robin Buckson / The Detroit New / Tribune News Services)
Tigers’ Tarik Skubal wins AL Cy Young Award

The Detroit pitcher caps a dominant season with a unanimous selection.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.