May 27, 2023 – Northwest League (NWL) – Everett AquaSox News Release
EUGENE, OR: On a night when the Eugene Emeralds (23-19) paid homage to a 45-foot-long whale that was blown up by 20 cases of dynamite back in 1970, the team’s offense exploded for eight runs and ended the Everett AquaSox (20-22) two game winning streak with a 8-6 victory. The game marked the third of four times this season that the Emeralds took on the alternate identity with their Exploding Whales uniforms, to honor an infamous moment in Oregon history when the nearby town of Florence attempted to use dynamite to blow up a sperm whale that had washed up ashore. While the 1970 explosion didn’t go as smoothly as planned, the baseball team was far more successful in achieving their primary objective which was to win their game.
AquaSox outfielder Alberto Rodriguez provided the early firepower when he hit a solo home run in the first inning. It was the third home run in the last two games for Rodriguez and his sixth of the year, giving the Sox a 1-0 lead.
Logan Wyatt put Eugene on the board and gave them the lead with one swing of the bad when he hit a two-run home run in the third inning to put the Exploding Whales out in front 2-1. The AquaSox responded one inning later and tied the game 2-2 in the fourth inning when Tyler Locklear scored on an Axel Sanchez single.
Eugene regained the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning scoring two times and two times in the fifth inning to make it 6-2.
The AquaSox showed that they were not beached quite yet and came storming back in the seventh inning. James Parker and Mike Salvatore both scored on a Ben Ramirez single to cut the lead to 6-4 and Rodriguez then tied the game at 6-6 with a two-run double.
The game didn’t remain tied for long though as Adrian Sugastey put Eugene out in front for good with his second home run of the game, a solo shot in the bottom of the seventh inning. Eugene then added on one more run in the inning for the game’s final run.
The AquaSox tried to mount a comeback in the ninth inning by putting the potential tying run on base with only one out however Eugene closer Tyler Myrick was able to get Walking Cabrera to ground into a double play to end the game.
LOOKING AHEAD: The two teams are scheduled to play a doubleheader on Saturday May 27. AquaSox LHP Reid VanScoter (3-2, 3.73 ERA) will face Emeralds LHP John Michael Bertrand (5-1, 2.89 ERA) in the first game. The AquaSox are scheduled to start RHP Bernie Martinez (2-2, 7.16 ERA) in the second game and LHP Seth Lonsway (0-5, 6.11 ERA) will start for the Emeralds. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 5:05 p.m. and the pre-game show begins at 4:45 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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