Oh What A Knight!!!  Sox One Hit Rooster Tails

July 27, 2024 - PASCO, WA: Four AquaSox pitchers combined to throw a one-hit shutout and Bill Knight drove in five runs as the Everett AquaSox (13-16, second half) defeated the Columbia River Rooster Tails (aka the Tri-City Dust Devils) (10-19, second half), 6-0.

The starting pitchers were the storyline early on in the game. Joel Hurtado of the Rooster Tails and Marcelo Perez of the AquaSox each gave up a first inning base hit followed by a ground out double play to keep the game scoreless. Perez gave up a one out hit to Adrian Placencia in the bottom of the first that could end up being the only hit of the game for the Rooster Tails.

Both pitchers were impressive and the score remained 0-0 through the first three innings. Hurtado retired nine consecutive AquaSox hitters after giving up a lead-off hit to Michael Arroyo.

Perez had a rockier road early. The Rooster Tails had the bases loaded in the second inning after a throwing error by AquaSox third baseman Caleb Cali and two walks. Perez however was able to get Landon Wallace to fly out to left field to end the threat. The closest that the Rooster Tails came to scoring though may have been in the third inning. Placencia walked with one out in the inning and after Matt Courtney flew out to center field for the second out of the inning, it was Chad Stevens turn to bat. Stevens launched a ball deep into left center field that appeared to be going into the gap for an RBI extra base hit. Center-fielder Bill Knight had other ideas though, racing diagonally toward the left center field warning track before laying out and making an incredible diving back handed catch to end the inning.

The game remained scoreless until the top of the fourth inning. Michael Arroyo led off with a walk, followed by perhaps the most unusual hit of the night off of the bat of Josh Hood. Hood hit a sharp line drive right up the middle that somehow went right between the feet of Hurtado and past the pitching mound. The ball continued to make its way up the middle of the infield when Placencia from his shortstop position situated himself behind the base at second, prepared to field the ball as it went over the bag. A play that could have potentially been a double play. At the moment that Placencia went down to make the play, the ball ricocheted off of second base, sending the ball into shallow left field and away from Placencia. Arroyo ended up on third base while Hood slid in to second for a double. Arroyo then scored during the next at bat on a Hurtado wild pitch to put the AquaSox out front, 1-0. Hood also advanced to third base on the play.

Jared Sundstrom walked to put runners on the corners with still nobody out before Hurtado retired the next two batters; Lazaro Montes on a strikeout and Caleb Cali on a shallow fly out to right field. Bill Knight was the next batter and hit a ball deep into left field. The ball hit the top of the wall and bounced high into the air, landing on the other side of the wall for a three run home run, his 11th of the year and his second home run in the last three games. Hood and Sundstrom also scored, putting the AquaSox ahead 4-0.

The score remained unchanged until the top of the eighth inning. Sundstrom led off the inning with a single, followed by a Montes walk. Two batters later Knight drove both players in with a an opposite field triple into right field. Knight finished the night a double short of the cycle, going three-for hour with five RBI.

The AquaSox pitchers continued their dominance all the way until the end of the game. Perez pitched four innings of one hit baseball, walking three and striking out two. Allan Saathoff pitched the next two innings, retiring all six batters that he faced, striking out three. Bryan Pope followed with two hitless innings, walking one and striking out two. Tyler Cleveland came on in the ninth inning, retiring the side and striking out two.

By The Numbers

• 0.61- AquaSox relief pitchers ERA over the past three games.
• 1.56- AquaSox relief pitchers ERA in the first five games of the series this week.
• 17- Josh Hood has now reached base in 17 straight games
• 5- Josh Hood has scored in five straight games
• 9- Bill Knight has nine RBI in his last four games and 18 in July
• 0- The number of times the AquaSox have been shut out this season
• 4- The number of times the AquaSox have shut out an opponent this season (twice each at home and on the road)

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LOOKING AHEAD: The AquaSox have won three out of five from the Rooster Tails this week and will finish up their six game series on Sunday July 28 at 7:05 p.m. RHP Shaddon Peavyhouse (2-5, 5.98 ERA) will start for the AquaSox and RHP Jorge Marcheco (2-5, 5.52 ERA) will start for the Rooster Tails. The AquaSox will have Monday July 29 off before returning home for a six game series against the Eugene Emeralds on Tuesday July 30.

ABOUT THE EVERETT AQUASOX: The Everett AquaSox are the High-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. Everett is a member of the Northwest League and has been a Mariners affiliate since establishing the AquaSox moniker in 1995. For updates on the 2023 season, community initiatives, and Webbly appearances follow the Frogs on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok, or visit our website, AquaSox.com. Flex tickets, ticket plans, group outings, and picnics outings can be purchased by calling (425) 258-3673 or visiting the AquaSox Front Office at 3802 Broadway..,,..