AquaSox stay perfect in second half, beat Spokane 3-1

SPOKANE — The Everett AquaSox continued their torrid second-half start as they knocked off the Northwest League’s first-half champion Spokane Indians 3-1 before 5,974 fans Friday at Avista Stadium.

The AquaSox (4-0 second half, 22-20 overall) never trailed against Spokane (21-21) in their season-high fifth straight win.

Starting pitcher Danny Garcia (2-1) picked up the win after scattering six hits and fanning two in five shutout innings. Tim Viehoff allowed one run in 2 2/3 innings of relief before Michael Koval worked the final 1 1/3 for his first save of the season.

Everett took a 1-0 lead in the top half of the fourth inning. Dimas Ojeda singled with two outs and advanced to second on an errant pickoff throw. Joe Venturino’s RBI single chased in Ojeda for the game’s first run.

Ojeda then threw out Stephen Lohr at the plate to end the bottom of the inning as the AquaSox maintained their 1-0 lead.

The Frogs tacked on two more in the seventh when Yojhan Quevedo singled and later scored on a wild pitch, and Austin Grebeck scored on an RBI double by Jose Leal.

Viehoff ran into trouble with two outs in the eighth. A walk and two singles loaded the bases before he walked Lohr to force in Seth Spivey for Spokane’s first run. In came Koval who induced a groundout to end the threat and keep the score 3-1.

Spokane stranded 10 in the contest while Everett left seven on base. The Indians turned three double plays behind starter Kyle Cody (2-2) who allowed one run on seven hits while striking out six in five innings.

Leal finished with two hits, as did Venturino, Quevedo and Nick Zammarelli.

Lohr had two hits, including a double to lead Spokane. Blaine Prescott also had two hits for the Indians.

The middle game of the three-game series starts at 6:30 p.m. Saturday. Brandon Miller (1-2, 3.82 ERA) will start for the AquaSox against Spokane’s C.D. Pelham (0-1, 3.20).

Following Sunday’s game the Frogs will begin the three-day All-Star break.