Great Pitching Propels Sox To Win

June 13, 2024 - EUGENE, OR: Marcelo Perez held the Eugene Emeralds scoreless through the first five innings, and Jimmy Kingsbury recorded a seven-out save as the AquaSox defeated the Emeralds for the second straight night, with a 3-2 win.

The AquaSox scored the game’s first run in the top of second inning by leading off the frame with three straight singles. Jared Sundstrom led off with a line drive into center field, extending his hitting streak to six games. RJ Schreck then singled into right field, advancing Sundstrom to third base. Bill Knight then lined an RBI single into left field that scored Sundstrom for a 1-0 lead. It was the second straight game that Knight drove in the game’s opening run in the second inning, having hit a solo home run the previous day.

Gabriel Moncada was the next batter and flew out to deep center field for the first out of the inning, allowing Schreck to tag up and move to third base and Knight to take second base. Axel Sanchez was the next batter and hit a chopper right back to the mound that was fielded cleanly by Emeralds pitcher Manuel Mercedes. Schreck was off and running on the play and was halfway between third and home when the pitcher fielded the ball. Mercedes however made the split-second decision to allow Schreck to score and elected to instead throw Sanchez out at first base for the second out of the inning. Schreck’s run increased the AquaSox lead to 2-0.

The score would remain unchanged until Brock Rodden led off the fifth inning by hitting a line drive home run off of the base of the right field foul pole. Rodden’s seventh home run of the season extended the AquaSox lead to 3-0.

Perez kept the Emeralds off of the board through the first five innings of the game. The Emeralds however finally broke through and scored in the bottom of the sixth. Matt Higgins reached base with a one-out single and moved to second when Onil Perez followed with a walk. Justin Wishkoski then lined a ball sharply at AquaSox third baseman Josh Hood. The ball just grazed off of Hood’s glove and rolled into left field for an RBI single as Higgins came in to score, trimming the Sox lead to 3-1.

The Emeralds struck again in the seventh inning. AquaSox reliever Allan Saathoff walked Diego Velasquez and Higgins consecutively with two outs. Saathoff was then relieved by Kingsbury. Onil Perez greeted Kingsbury by singling into right-center field, scoring Velasquez to make it a 3-2 game.

Kingsbury responded by retiring the next six batters he faced before hitting Velasquez with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning. Kingsbury then struck out Higgins to end the game, recording his second save of the season. Kingsbury over his last five appearances has pitched 7.1 innings, allowing only one hit, no runs, no walks, and 11 strikeouts.

Marcelo Perez was credited with the win, going 5.1 innings, allowing five hits, one earned run, one wal,k and two strikeouts. Perez lowered his season ERA to 5.27 after starting off the season with an ERA of 11.57 through the month of April. Perez is 2-1 with an ERA of 2.76 over his last seven starts.

Notes:

• Brock Rodden extended his scoring streak to six consecutive games. He has also scored at least one run in 10 of his past 11 games and 14 of his last 16 games.
• Jared Sundstrom extended his hitting streak to six games and has reached base two or more times in each of his last five games.
• Stefan Raeth retired all three batters he faced in relief. Raeth has only allowed one run over his last five appearances.

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LOOKING AHEAD: Game four of the six game series between the AquaSox and Emeralds is scheduled for Friday June 14 at 6:35 p.m. LHP Brandyn Garcia (4-0, 2.50 ERA) will start for the AquaSox and LHP Seth Lonsway (2-2, 4.06 ERA) for the Emeralds. The AquaSox return home to the friendly confines of Funko Field on June 18 for a six-game series against the Hillsboro Hops. Following the series against Hillsboro, Everett will remain at Funko Field for another week, squaring off against the Spokane Indians in a six-game series beginning Tuesday, June 25. Get your tickets now and hit a home run by starting your summer with AquaSox baseball!

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.