Friday, Jul. 10, 2009

AquaSox squeak past Dust Devils

By Jack Millikin, Herald staff writer

The Tri-City Dust Devils showed Everett just how dangerous they can be Thursday night at Gesa Stadium, erasing a 6-0 deficit to tie the game at 6.

But the AquaSox made a statement, too, proving you don't need a lot of high draft picks to be successful in the Northwest League.

Mario Martinez, an undrafted free agent out of Venezuela, went 2-for-5 and drove in five runs to lead Everett to an 8-6 victory. Martinez, 19, smashed a two-run triple to right-centerfield to give the Sox a

2-0 first-inning lead and then capped his night with a two-run double that put Everett ahead 8-6 with one out in the ninth.

"He's a good player, a definite major-league prospect," said AquaSox manager John Tamargo. "He started out in Clinton, but he really has turned it on here. Every day he comes to the park with a smile on his face."

Everett won its eighth straight game, tying the team's longest winning streak since winning the NWL championship in 1985.

The Dust Devils, meanwhile, weren't smiling after their fifth loss in the last six games. Despite that lull, Tri-City (13-7) remains in first place in the East Division, five games up on Spokane (8-12), which lost 3-2 to Eugene.

The Dust Devils also were encouraged by several things, including a six-run comeback that was capped by Bo Bowman's towering three-run home run to right field in the fifth inning. Bowman, in his third year in the Rockies' system, continued his latest hot streak with his third homer in as many games.

In his last five games, Bowman has driven in 13 runs. With the promotions of Scott Beerer (to High-A Modesto) and Michael Zuanich (Low-A Asheville) on Thursday, the 6-foot-2 first baseman inherits the team lead in average (.342), home runs (3) and RBIs (15).

"We've scored a lot of runs before, so I knew we could do it again," said Bowman of the team's comeback. "I thought momentum might go our way (in the ninth), but it didn't. We've learned most every team is going to go through this."

Dust Devils starter Rob Scahill struggled with his command, walking four batters in five innings. He allowed six runs on eight hits while striking out three but did not take the loss after Tri-City tied the score in the fifth.

Craig Bennigson (2-1) took the loss after giving up two runs on five hits -- including Martinez' go-ahead double -- in 3 2/3 innings.

AquaSox starter Taylor Stanton lasted six innings and allowed all six Tri-City runs on six hits. Phillip Roy (1-2) tossed a scoreless eighth for the win, and Andrew Carraway picked up his first save with a scoreless ninth. Carraway struck out two, including Bowman for the last out of the game.

"One thing that can hurt you is the long ball," said Tamargo. "We told him to keep the ball down and away from (Bowman)."

Everett had 13 hits but left just six runners on base. The AquaSox could have put up significantly more runs if not for the play of shortstop Joey Wong, who started four double plays.

"That's what he is, a solid defensive player. He's always in the right place," said Dust Devils manager Fred Ocasio. "They say pitching and defense wins championships."

Notes: Zuanich led the NWL with seven homers and an .809 slugging percentage. Beerer led the team with a .558 average and 24 hits in 11 games. ... Ocasio also said that the Rockies will send LHP Rex Brothers, the team's third pick in the draft out of Lipscomb University, and 1B Ben Paulsen, a third-rounder from Clemson, to the Dust Devils. Both are expected to arrive in Pasco for their physicals today.