May 25, 2023 – Northwest League (NWL) – Everett AquaSox News Release
EUGENE, OR: The Eugene Emeralds (22-18) looked to be poised to possibly defeat the Everett AquaSox (19-21) in the ninth inning for the second day in a row. Trailing 3-2 with runners on first and third, the Emeralds’ odds were looking very strong when Victor Bericoto stroked a ball into centerfield that was falling quickly for what looked to be a game-tying base hit. That is when Walking Cabrera, who hit a walk-off game-winning home run on Sunday at home against Spokane made a walk-off play on defense in Eugene. Cabrera made a spectacular diving catch and then jumped up to complete the game-ending double play with a throw home as the Everett AquaSox defeated the Eugene Emeralds, 3-2.
Harry Ford lead off the game with a walk and appeared to be ready to score the game’s first run when he took off running on a pitch that Alberto Rodriguez hit into the right-center field gap. The only problem was that the ball took a huge bounce off of the artificial surface and hopped over the fence for a ground-rule double, forcing Ford to hold up at third base. Walking Cabrera then came up with two outs and made sure that Ford and Rodriguez would both score when he hit a sharp line drive just inside the third base bag that found its way into the left-field corner. Cabrera ended up at second with a two-run double to give the Sox a 2-0 lead in the first inning.
The game then became a pitchers dual with neither team surrendering another run over the next five innings. Nick Davila made his AquaSox debut as the starter and threw five scoreless innings, only allowing five hits, one walk while striking out eight batters. Emeralds starting pitcher Matt Mikulski also settled down and held the Sox scoreless in the second and third innings before giving way to Ben Madison. Mikulski struck out six hitters in his three innings of work. Madison pitched two scoreless and hitless innings, walking only one AquaSox hitter while striking out five batters.
The Emeralds finally got on the board and tied the game up in the bottom of the sixth inning when Jared Dupere hit a two-run home run over the left field fence, also scoring Logan Wyatt, and the game was tied 2-2.
Relief pitcher Ty Weber held the AquaSox scoreless in the sixth and seventh inning before giving up a Ben Ramirez home run out to right field to lead off the eighth inning. It was the third home run of the season for Ramirez and gave the Sox a 3-2 lead.
Everett was still clinging to a 3-2 lead when Jarod Bayless entered the game to pitch the bottom of the ninth inning. Damon Dues led off the inning with a single and then stole second base. Grant McCray followed with a sharp single into right field to put runners at the corners with nobody out. Aeverson Arteaga then came to the plate with an opportunity to be the hero and possibly win the game with a walk-off hit for the second night in a row however Bayless struck him out for the first out of the inning. Victor Bericoto then came up and hit a ball into center field that looked as though it might drop in for a potential game-tying base hit but centerfielder Cabrera had other plans. Cabrera came rushing in from his center field position, dove forward, and made an outstanding catch to retire Bericoto for the second out of the inning. Dues then decided to take a chance and tried to tag up from third base and headed for home plate with the intention of tying the game. Cabrera however hopped up onto his feet and fired a throw to catcher Harry Ford who caught the ball and ended the game with a tag of Dues at the plate.
WRAPPING IT UP: Ben Ramirez had been 0 for 10 over a three-game stretch prior to his go-head home run in the eighth inning. Prior to the last three games, Ramirez had a 14-game hitting streak which ended on Sunday. Harry Ford walked twice, increasing his Northwest League-leading walk total to 39 this season. Ford has walked seven times in the past four games and has walked two or more times in seven of his last 12 games. Bernie Martinez picked up the win in his first relief appearance of the season after starting in his previous six games.
LOOKING AHEAD: Game three of the seven-game series is scheduled for Thursday, May 25. RHP Jordan Jackson (0-1, 5.40 ERA) will make his fifth start of the season for the AquaSox while LHP Carson Whisenhunt (0-0, 0.52 ERA) will take the mound for his fifth start for Eugene. Whisenhunt has only allowed three hits over 17.1 innings since being promoted to Eugene from single A San Jose in late April. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. and the pre-game show begins at 6:15 p.m. Tune in to 1380 AM/95.3 FM for all of the action.
The Frogs return to the friendly confines of Funko Field for a six-game homestand against the Hillsboro Hops starting May 29 for a special Monday Memorial Day Game starting at 4:05 PM. The series resumes on Wednesday, May 31st, and runs through Sunday, June 4th.
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