Gobbel’s Efforts Noble in Tri-City Trouncing of Everett

EVERETT – Ben Gobbel delivered the big blow, a 4^th inning grand slam, and Ryan Johnson earned his first professional starting pitching win in an 11-4 victory for the Tri-City Dust Devils (27-33) over the Everett AquaSox (31-29) at Funko Field that got the visitors back in the win column.

Gobbel came up with one out and the bases loaded, facing Everett starter Ashton Izzi (1-3) with the game tied at 2-2 after RBI singles by 1B Ryan Nicholson and DH Matt Coutney had erased a 2-0 deficit in the 3^rd. The Tri-City third baseman took the first pitch he saw deep over the wall down the left field line, clearing the bases with the Dust Devils’ second grand slam of the year and giving his team a 6-2 lead. CF Anthony Scull added an RBI single to cap a five-run 4^th inning, handing Johnson a five-run lead with which to work. The righty from Red Oak, Texas, then posted two scoreless frames to be win-eligible, having gone five innings with two runs (1 ER) and six hits allowed with five strikeouts. Tri-City added four runs in the 7^th for good measure, starting with a two-run homer by Coutney which was followed up with RBI doubles by RF Randy De Jesus and SS Capri Ortiz. The AquaSox managed a run in each of their final two at-bats but no more, with the Dust Devils finishing out the game to end their six-game losing streak.

DUST DEVILS NOTES

-Tri-City’s 11 runs and 14 hits both set new single-game season highs for the team in 2025, eclipsing the previous marks by one each. The Dust Devils scored 10 runs against Eugene on May 29^th, the night on which Arol Vera hit the team’s first grand slam of the season, and had 13 hits in their 9-7 win on May 23^rd at Spokane.

-Reliever Sandy Gastón threw two scoreless and hitless frames, striking out five and allowing only one baserunner via walk. Gastón continued a dominant year against Everett, brandishing a 0.96 ERA in six outings against the Seattle Mariners’ High-A affiliate. The righty has struck out 17 AquaSox and walked only four over his 9.1 innings of work against them, allowing one run on six hits.

-Ben Gobbel (3-for-4, grand slam, 2B, BB, 4 RBI, 2 R) and Ryan Nicholson (3-for-4, HBP, RBI, 2 R) both had three-hit games to help Tri-City get off the schneid. Randy De Jesus (2-for-5, 2B, RBI) and Anthony Scull (2-for 5, 2B, RBI) added multi-hit games for the Dust Devils.

FRIDAY THE 13^TH

Tri-City and Everett clash in game four of their six-game series at 7:05 p.m. Friday night at Funko Field. It’s a battle of right-handed Ryans with Ryan Costeiu (0-3, 7.71 ERA) toeing the slab for the Dust Devils and righty Ryan Hawks (6-3, 3.63 ERA) countering for the AquaSox. Hawks is the reigning Northwest League Pitcher of the Week, having gone seven no-hit innings last Friday night as part of a combined no-hitter at PK Park against the Eugene Emeralds.

Free broadcast coverage of the game, available at dustdevilsbaseball.com and the MiLB app, begins with the Dust Devils Pregame Show at 6:45 p.m.

Tri-City returns home after the road series to host the Hillsboro Hops for a six-game series beginning on a Coca-Cola Tuesday night, June 17^th, at 7:05 p.m. The first three games of the series will conclude the First Half, with the Second Half beginning Friday, June 20^th.

For tickets to the Hillsboro series, and for all 2025 Dust Devils home games, visit the official ticket site, dustdevilsbaseball.com.