AquaSox Win Wild One 12-11
July 19, 2023 - Northwest League (NWL)
Everett AquaSox News Release
Everett, WA: Unbelievable. The Everett AquaSox came back to win on a walk-off fielder's choice from Gabriel Gonzalez on Wednesday afternoon, 12-11. It was Gonzalez's second walk off in only five games a Frog, and the fact they needed it was even more surprising.
The Frogs had a 10-2 lead going into the top of the ninth but gave up nine runs - yes, nine - in the inning, allowing the Dust Devils to take an unthinkable 11-10 lead. Fortunately for the Frogs that was not the end of the story. Refusing to lose, Everett answered with two of their own in the bottom of the ninth to pull off the victory.
The Tri-City comeback almost spoiled a great performance from Raul Alcantara, who struck out a career high 13 Tri-City Dust Devil hitters in the contest.
Wednesday's game began much like Tuesday's... Gabriel Gonzalez hit a home run. It was his third home run in only his fifth game as a Frog and his eighth RBI. It gave Everett an early 1-0 lead.
Tri-City immediately responded in the second on an RBI-single from Gustavo Campero tying the game at 1-1. D'Shawn Knowles singled in another in the inning, giving the Dust Devils the lead at 2-1.
The game kept swinging back and forth early. Victor Labrada picked up a clutch RBI double to re-tie the game at 2 in the second.
After his offense tied it for him, Frogs' starter Raul Alcantara settled in. After giving up two runs in the second he found his groove, striking out 10 through six innings, keeping Tri-City off the board and preserving the tie game through six.
That's when Everett's offense broke through. In the sixth. Axel Sanchez hit a home run in his third straight game, putting the Frogs back up 4-2. Andrew Miller followed that with his first home run as a member of the AquaSox, stretching the lead to 5-2.
This barrage chased Dust Devils' starter Bryce Osmond from the game after 5.1 innings, giving up five runs on eight hits while striking out nine. Dylan Phillips took over out of the pen for Tri-City.
Phillips had a hard time controlling the baseball. He walked two and hit three with pitches. This ultimately pushed in two more runs to make it 7-2. Tri-City removed Phillips for Jake Smith, who found no answers to stop the bleeding. Axel Sanchez picked up his fifth and sixth RBIs of the series driving in two, and Ben Ramirez followed that up with an RBI single to make it a safe lead at 10-2 Frogs. You would have thought.
Raul Alcantara finished his day after seven innings of work, striking out 13 to surpass his previous minor league career high in strikeouts of 10, in 2021. Alcantara left the game only giving up two runs on three hits.
Then the improbable happened...
The Dust Devils scored nine runs in the ninth inning, with the big blasts coming off the bats of Casey Dana with a clutch grand slam, closing the gap to just two at 10-8, and then a "did I really just see that?" three run home run from Ryan Hernandez that put Tri-City on top, 11-10.
But the Frogs refused to croak. Ben Ramirez and Andrew Miller started the bottom of the ninth off with a couple of singles which set up Blake Rambusch for an RBI double, tying the game at 11.
Two batters later, Gabriel Gonzalez came to the plate and hustled out a potential double play, allowing the winning run to score and handing Everett and a loud, faithful Funko Field crowd a crazy and unimaginable 12-11 come-from-behind win.
LOOKING AHEAD: Game three of the six game series is Thursday with the first pitch scheduled for 7:05. Thursday is also our annual Brewfest presented by Independent Beer Bar and Mac & Jack's (6:00 to 8:00). Then on Friday, we welcome another Funko Friday and the annual Pink At The Park game. Don't miss out on a Webbly Pink Jersey Pop! Don't wait! Get your tickets today!
Northwest League Stories from July 19, 2023
- Emeralds Win 13-1 for 2nd Consecutive Night - Eugene Emeralds
- Hops Fall 13-1 to Eugene for Second Straight Night - Hillsboro Hops
- Late Homer Hands C's 7-6 Loss - Vancouver Canadians
- Everett Overcomes Tri-City's Incredible Ninth-Inning Rally - Tri-City Dust Devils
- Road to the Show: Prelander Berroa Gets the Call - Everett AquaSox
- AquaSox Win Wild One 12-11 - Everett AquaSox
- Dust Devils Leapfrog AquaSox for Late Comeback Win - Tri-City Dust Devils
- Eugene Slugs 10 Extra-Base Hits in Rout - Hillsboro Hops
- Emeralds' Bats Come Out Red-Hot Against Hillsboro - Eugene Emeralds
- Frogs Falter Late in Game; Fall 4-3 - Everett AquaSox
- 11-3 Win Buoyed by Big Inning - Vancouver Canadians
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
