AquaSox Complete Sweep of Bears
The AquaSox were led by a strong starting pitching performance from Chris Kirkland (W, 1-0) who tossed six scoreless innings, scattering five hits, while striking out six and walking three.
Kirkland worked himself out of a couple early jams. In the top of the first, Brent Greer hit a one-out triple. Ryan Wheeler joined him on the bases after getting hit by a Kirkland pitch. Kirkland then recorded back-to-back strikeouts to end the threat.
The Bears threatened again in the top of the second, loading the bases with two outs. Once again Kirkland hit his spots and forced a ground out from Brent Greer to get out of harms way.
Behind a strong start defensively, the AquaSox offense began their attack in the bottom of the second. Gerardo Avila led off the inning with a walk before Juan Fuentes grounded into a double play. Looking for some two-out magic, Welington Dotel singled up the middle to extend his hitting streak to 10 games. Dotel has also hit safely in 15 out of his last 16 games. Ben Billingsley drew a walk to send Dotel to second, before Jose Rivero hit a two-RBI double, scoring both Dotel and Billingsley to give the Frogs an early 2-0 lead.
Everett tacked on a run in the fifth when Ryan Royster hit a double before scoring on a Hawkins Gebbers single to make the score 3-0.
The AquaSox would add one more insurance run in the seventh on an Anthony Phillips solo home run - his second of the year, giving Everett a 4-0 cushion.
With a four-run lead in the ninth, the AquaSox brought in their closer and the league leader in saves, Daniel Cooper, to shut the door on the Bears. Cooper recorded the first two outs quickly before running into a bit of trouble. Tim Sherlock hit a two-out single and was followed by another single from Tyrell Worthington. Daniel Kaczrowski followed with a single of his own to load the bases and put the tying run at the plate. Brent Greer singled to score Sherlock and keep the bases loaded. A Cooper wild pitch then allowed Worthington to score, cutting the AquaSox lead to 4-2. Cooper allowed a walk to Ryan Wheeler, before getting out of the jam by striking out Matthew Davidson to complete the sweep.
The AquaSox will take their seven-game winning streak on the road as they travel to play the Tri-City Dust Devils for five games. Taylor Stanton (0-1, 4.40) will get the start in game one, which is set for 7:15 p.m. Thursday night.