After snapping their 7-game losing streak in game one of the double header, the Ems continued their winning ways, with the help of some newcomers. A late pair of runs secured a 2-1 victory over the Everett AquaSox in front of 2,037 at PK Park.
After snapping their 7-game losing streak in game one of the double header, the Ems continued their winning ways, with the help of some newcomers. A late pair of runs secured a 2-1 victory over the Everett AquaSox in front of 2,037 at PK Park.
Paul Richan, the second round compensation pick for the Cubs in 2018, made his first professional start and though it was brief, Richan showed flashes of why the Cubs thought so highly of him. He breezed through his two innings of work, allowing just one hit while striking out five batters on just 31 pitches, 24 of them for strikes.
Stephen Ridings relieved Richan in the third and continued to shut the AquaSox (9-8) down, giving up no hits and striking out one. Both Ems (7-10) pitchers did well enough to earn the win, but the bats stayed quite until Sean Barry (2-0) entered the game in the fifth.
Fernando Kelli doubled with two outs to right field and scored when Cubs first round pick Nico Hoerner laced his first hit of the game to left. Kelli scored easily and gave the Ems a 1-0 lead. Hoerner then stole second before Luis Diaz drove a ball to center, getting his eighth RBI of the year, scoring Hoerner and making it 2-0.
The Aqua Sox would strike back in the top of the sixth, when Charlie McConnell singled with one out. A Barry wild pitch and a throwing error from catcher Brennon Kaleiwahea on the play moved McConnell to third.
Josh Stowers hit a fly ball to center and McConnell scored easily, making it a one run game. Barry settled and got the last out of the inning, but Everett was not done yet.
In the seventh, with two outs, Barry walked Geoandry Montilla before Jake Anchia singled. Manager Steve Lerud went to the pen and got Eugenio Palma to secure the last out. Palma threw a wild pitch to move runners to second and third before finally getting pinch hitter Matt Sanders to fly out and end the game.
Game four of the five game set begins tomorrow at 7:05 pm. Jose Albertos will look to turn around his season in his third start, while Orlando Razo will take the mound for the AquaSox.
