BOISE — The Everett AquaSox had two big innings — the latter of which gave them a six-run lead — but the Frogs could not hold off a resilient Boise team in their final tune-up before the Northwest League playoffs begin.
The Hawks scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to complete the come-from-behind victory and win 12-11 at Memorial Stadium in Boise in both teams’ regular season finale.
Both teams have clinched berths in the Northwest League playoffs. The Frogs will travel to Vancouver — which clinched the West Division second-half title Friday night — to take on the Canadians at 1 p.m. on Monday. Boise — the East Division’s second-half winner — will host Yakima at 6:45 on Monday.
Saturday night was a wild finale for the two teams, which combined for 23 runs and 28 hits. The marathon game was just one minute shy of going four hours.
Boise struck first with a three-run second inning. The Hawks had two bases-loaded walks, which helped them build an early lead.
But Everett came back fast and furiously, with six runs in the fourth inning and five runs in the fifth. The first rally was punctuated by a bases-loaded single by Jamodrick McGruder. A fielding error on the play by Boise right fielder Rock Shoulders allowed all three baserunners — Alfredo Morales, Ketel Marte and Brock Hebert — to score on the play.
McGruder scored on a groundout by catcher Marcus Littlewood.
The Hawks responded with two runs in the bottom of the inning, before the Frogs took a commanding lead in the top of fifth. The five additional runs gave the Sox an 11-5 lead.
The first four Everett players to the plate got base hits, followed by an Hebert sacrifice fly. Errors on back-to-back plays by Boise allowed two more AquaSox to score.
Then Boise took over. The Hawks scored 12 runs in the final four innings — including the rally in the ninth — to come out on top. With one out, Gioskar Amaya tripled off Frogs’ reliever Mark Bordonaro, and scored on a single by Marco Hernandez.
After back-to-back walks to load the bases, Willson Contreras reached base on a throwing error by Everett third baseman, and NWL Most Valuable Player, Patrick Kivlehan that allowed Hernandez to score and end the game.
Bordonaro (3-4) took the loss for the AquaSox. He was the third Everett pitcher used in the game, after Blake Holovach and Scott DeCecco.
Kivlehan, Dario Pizzano, Marte and Hebert led the Sox with two hits apiece. Hebert added two RBI for Everett.
Hernandez finished the day 4-for-6 with three runs and two RBI for the Hawks.
Boise shortstop Stephen Bruno and manager Mark Johnson were ejected in the fifth inning for arguing with field umpire Lewis Williams.
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