Late Runs Power Everett Past Tri-City

Both the Tri-City Dust Devils (18-30 2H, 52-62) and the Everett AquaSox (28-22 2H, 62-54) had their talents on full display Wednesday night, with Everett’s prolific offense putting up runs in their final four at-bats for a 5-2 win at Gesa Stadium that evened the series at one game apiece.

Tri-City’s trademark solid starting pitching and team speed helped the team stay in another tight ballgame. Starter Michael Darrell-Hicks held the AquaSox off the scoreboard until the 6^th inning, working out of a bases-loaded jam in the 4^th and striking out five in 5.2 innings of work. The Bowling Green, Kentucky native came up an out shy of giving his side another quality start, giving up two runs on seven hits and getting a no-decision.

Neither team got on the board until the bottom of the 5^th, when the Dust Devils opened the scoring. DH Andy Blake drew a leadoff walk, then helped C Myles Emmerson execute a perfect hit-and-run by sprinting for second and hopping over Emmerson’s grounder, which found its way into center field for a single. Blake continued to third, scoring a batter later on CF Joe Stewart’s RBI bloop single just inside the right field line that gave Tri-City a 1-0 lead.

After a two-run single in the top of the 6^th by Everett RF Walking Cabrera that gave the visitors a 2-1 advantage, Dust Devils 3B Werner Blakely put on a speed exhibition to tie the game in the bottom of the frame. Blakely first pulled a single through the right side to get aboard and then stole second and third to get 90 feet away with one out.

The native Detroiter then made a thrilling dash for home following a strikeout of Tri-City 1B Cam Williams by AquaSox reliever Leon Hunter, Jr. (4-1), on a pitch in the dirt. Everett C Harry Ford grabbed the ball, looked at Blakely to hold him at third, then threw to first to record the out. Blakely took off once Ford turned to throw to first, sliding in to beat the throw home and tie the game at 2-2.

The AquaSox hit back in the top of the 7^th to retake the lead. Ford drew a one-out walk and advanced to third on a single by DH Gabriel Gonzalez, one of his three hits on the night. 1B Hogan Windish followed with a fly ball off Dust Devils reliever Will Christophersen (0-3) to right which RF Alexander Ramirez lined up behind to catch and get his momentum forward for the throw home. Ford tagged and broke for the plate, and Ramirez fired a dart on the fly to Emmerson at home. The Everett catcher was ruled to have just gotten his hand in before Emmerson applied the tag, scoring on a sacrifice fly to give his team a 3-2 lead.

RBI singles by LF Blake Rambusch (8^th inning) and Windish (9^th inning) gave the AquaSox added insurance runs in the final frames. Tri-City had the tying runs on in the bottom of the 8^th, but a double play snuffed out the best chance for the Dust Devils to get back on even terms.

Game three of the six-game series between Tri-City and Everett has been set for a 7:05 p.m. start Thursday night at Gesa Stadium, where it’s Thirsty Thursday presented by Dog Haus Biergarten in Pasco. $3 12 oz. domestic beers and $4 12 oz. premium beers will be available from gates opening to the close of alcohol sales, and 21 oz. Coca-Cola products can be had for $4 throughout the night.

The Dust Devils have announced right-hander Chase Chaney (7-5, 3.36 ERA) as their probable starter, and the AquaSox will counter with left-hander Raul Alcantara (4-6, 6.37 ERA). Broadcast coverage begins with the pregame show at 6:45 p.m., both here and at the MiLB First Pitch app.

Tickets for both Thursday night's contest and the series are on sale now with special ticket rates available for groups of 20 or more. For more information on Dust Devils single game, season, mini-plan (11, 22, 33) and group tickets, visit dustdevilsbaseball.com, call the team office at (509) 544-8789, or visit the team office (10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on game nights, or Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. otherwise).