Cabrera Game Ending Diving Catch and Throw, Sox win 3-2
EUGENE, OR: Walking Cabrera, the hero of Sunday’s walk-off win against Spokane, played hero again in the Frogs Wednesday win against the Eugene Emeralds. Cabrera made a diving catch to take away a game-winning hit from Victor Bericoto. Aware of the situation, Cabrera pounced to his feet and fired a
EUGENE, OR: Walking Cabrera, the hero of Sunday’s walk-off win against Spokane, played hero again in the Frogs Wednesday win against the Eugene Emeralds. Cabrera made a diving catch to take away a game-winning hit from Victor Bericoto. Aware of the situation, Cabrera pounced to his feet and fired a seed to Harry Ford at home plate to nab Damon Dues and win the game for Everett. The final score was 3-2, the Frogs are now 19-21 on the season.
Ben Ramirez picked up the game-winning hit for the AquaSox in the eighth inning when he hit his third home run of the season that gave the Frogs a 3-2 lead.
The Eugene Emeralds (22-18) looked to be poised to possibly defeat the Everett AquaSox (19-21) in the ninth inning for the second day in a row, after walking off the Frogs on Tuesday.
Harry Ford led off the game with a walk and appeared to be ready to score the game’s first run when he took off running on a pitch that Alberto Rodriguez hit into the right-center field gap. The only problem was that the ball took a huge bounce off of the artificial surface and hopped over the fence for a ground-rule double, forcing Ford to hold up at third base. Walking Cabrera then came up with two outs and made sure that Ford and Rodriguez would both score when he hit a sharp line drive just inside the third base bag that found its way into the left-field corner. Cabrera ended up at second with a two-run double to give the Frogs a 2-0 lead in the first inning.
Then came a five-inning scoring intermission that turned the contest into a pitcher’s duel. Starter Nick Davila made his AquaSox debut and threw five scoreless innings, only allowing five hits, one walk while striking out eight batters. Emerald’s starting pitcher Matt Mikulski held Everett scoreless in the second and third innings before giving way to Ben Madison. Mikulski struck out six hitters in his three innings of work.
The Emeralds finally got on the board and tied the game in the bottom of the sixth inning when Jared Dupere hit a two-run home run over the left field fence, scoring Logan Wyatt and tying the game 2-2.
After Ramirez’s home run, Everett was clinging to a 3-2 lead. Jarod Bayless entered the game to pitch the bottom of the ninth inning. Damon Dues led off the inning with a single and then stole second base. Grant McCray followed with a sharp single into right field to put runners at the corners with nobody out. Aeverson Arteaga then came to the plate with an opportunity to be the hero and possibly win the game with a walk off hit for the second night in a row but Bayless struck him out for the first out of the inning. Victor Bericoto came to the plate and hit a fly ball to Center Field, allowing Cabrera to work his magic and win the game for Everett.
Pictured Above: Walking Cabera
Photo Credit: Joey McCraken
WRAPPING IT UP: Ben Ramirez had been 0-10 over a three-game stretch prior to his go-ahead home run in the eighth inning. Prior to the last three games, Ramirez had a 14-game hitting streak which ended on Sunday. Harry Ford walked twice, increasing his Northwest League leading walk total to 39 this season. Ford has walked seven times in the past four games and has walked two or more times in seven of his last 12 games. Bernie Martinez picked up the win in his first relief appearance of the season after starting in his previous six games.
LOOKING AHEAD: Game three of the seven-game series is scheduled for Thursday, May 25. RHP Jordan Jackson (0-1, 5.40 ERA) will make his fifth start of the season for the AquaSox while LHP Carson Whisenhunt (0-0, 0.52 ERA) will take the mound for his fifth start for Eugene. Whisenhunt has only allowed three hits over 17.1 innings since being promoted to Eugene from single-A San Jose in late April. The first pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. and the pre-game show begins at 6:15 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.
ABOUT THE EVERETT AQUASOX: The Everett AquaSox are the High-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. Everett is a member of the Northwest League and has been a Mariners affiliate since establishing the AquaSox moniker in 1995. For updates on the 2023 season, community initiatives and Webbly appearances follow the Frogs on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok, or visit our website, AquaSox.com. Season Tickets, mini-plans, group, and picnic outings can be purchased by calling (425) 258-3673 or visiting the AquaSox Front Office at 3802 Broadway in Everett.