VANCOUVER, B.C. — The Everett AquaSox let one slip away Wednesday night, falling to the Vancouver Canadians 7-6 in 14 innings.
Everett led 5-2 in the bottom of the ninth and 6-5 in the bottom of the 13th, but was unable to hold either of the leads.
Then Vancouver was handed the game in the bottom of the 14th when Sox pitcher Sam Lindquist uncorked a wild pitch with the bases loaded and two out, allowing Brenden Kalfus to scamper home with the winning run.
Vancouver improved to 9-11 in the second half and 34-24 overall. Everett dropped to 9-11, 20-38.
Everett seemed to have the game well in hand after scoring four runs in the top of the seventh to take a 5-1 lead.
However, Vancouver scored once in the eighth to get within three, then it all went wrong for the Sox in the ninth. It began when Kalfus blooped a leadoff single to left-center. One out later Franklin Barreto grounded an RBI double down the left-field line, then Chris Carlson ripped an RBI double over the head of Austin Cousino in center to get the Canadians within one. Gunnar Heidt then tied it by grounding and RBI single to right, making it 5-5 and sending the game to extra innings.
Everett again took the lead as James Alfonso’s two-out RBI single in the top of the 13th gave the Sox a 6-5 lead. But the Canadians answered in the bottom of the 13th courtesy of Seth Conner’s run-scoring single, tying it once again.
For six innings the game saw all kinds of baserunners, but few runs as the teams went a combined 1-for-14 with runners in scoring position, leaving the game tied 1-1.
But the Sox clutched up in the top of the seventh. Everett received a little help at first when Kalfus in center lost Yates’ fly ball in the lights. Cousino raced home from second, and on a close play at the plate Cousino was called safe. Vancouver manager John Schneider was incensed by the ball, and was ejected while arguing. Corey Simpson followed by lining a two-run single down the left-field line, and he later scored on a wild pitch as the Sox took a 5-1 lead. But that lead didn’t hold.
Everett pitcher Leoncio Munoz was forced into a spot start in place of Luiz Gohara, who didn’t make the trip with the team because of visa issues. Munoz, who was used exclusively in relief previously, went four innings, giving up one run.
Vancouver received a strong start from Chase Mallard. Mallard tossed five scoreless innings, allowing five hits, walking none and striking out six.
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