Bantz Provides Late-Game Heroics in 9-7 Win
August 7, 2009 - Northwest League (NWL1)
Everett AquaSox News Release
EVERETT, Wash.- Locked in a back-and-forth battle all afternoon, the Everett AquaSox (30-19) used a Brandon Bantz's walk-off home run to defeat the Eugene Emeralds (21-28) 9-7 in game two of the three-game series.
The Emeralds scored the first run of the game in the top of the third inning when Matt Vern hit a solo home run to left field to give Eugene a 1-0 lead.
The AquaSox answered in the bottom of the third when Hawkins Gebbers and Mario Martinez both singled before Gerardo Avila cleared the bases with a three-run shot to right-center. The long ball gave the Frogs a 3-1 lead.
Bantz helped extend the Everett lead in the bottom of the sixth with a solo homer to left field. Bantz's first career home run made the score 4-1.
Eugene came roaring back in the top of the seventh. Nate Freiman added a one-out double before Emmanuel Quiles was hit by a pitch. Jason Hagerty drove in Freiman with a double. Vern followed with a single - scoring Quiles and Hagerty. Later in the inning, Ty Wright tripled to score Vern to give the Ems a 5-4 lead.
Both teams would not budge as the Frogs tied the game in the bottom of the seventh when Matt Cerione led off with a double and scored on a Avila single - knotting the game up at 5-5.
Eugene answered with two runs in the top half of the eighth. Quiles added a solo homer, while Hagerty scored on a Vern single putting the Emeralds on top 7-5.
Everett would not back down as they added two runs of their own in the bottom half of the eighth. With two outs, Ben Billingsley provided a double before Jose Rivero singled to send him to third. Anthony Phillips drove in Billingsley with a single and Rivero came in to score on a third strike that got away from the catcher while Hawkins Gebbers was batting.
Christian Staehely (W, 4-1) shut down the Emeralds in the ninth - setting the table for the heroics in the bottom of ninth.
Martinez and Avila both led off the bottom of the ninth with singles. With runners at first and second and no outs, James Jones grounded into a double play - sending Martinez to third. Already with one home run in the game, Bantz came back for more as he sent a fastball over the left field fence for the walk-off 8-6 victory.
Staehely picked up the win after throwing a scoreless ninth inning, while striking out one.
The AquaSox and Emeralds will meet in the series finale tomorrow night at 7:05 p.m. Taylor Stanton (2-2, 4.47) will get the start for the AquaSox. Stanton will be opposed by Nick Greenwood (4-1, 1.99).
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Northwest League Stories from August 7, 2009
- Bantz Provides Late-Game Heroics in 9-7 Win - Everett AquaSox
- Canadians Remain Red Hot Against Yakima - Vancouver Canadians
- Bears Ninth-Inning Rally Not Enough - Yakima Bears
- Canadians Barely Hold Off Bears in Ninth - Yakima Bears
- C's back on track with 6-5 win - Vancouver Canadians
- Esquibel Erases Hawks in 4-0 Victory - Everett AquaSox
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