The Everett Aquasox put three runs on the board to defeat the Hillsboro Hops in their 10th inning 6-4 victory. The three extra runs would hold up in the bottom of the inning as the Hops could only score one run in response.

Will Landsheft came to the mound in the tenth inning for the Hops. Erick Mejia welcomed Landsheft to the game by bouncing a grounder off Landsheft’s right leg. By the time he recovered, his throw to first was too late as Mejia slid head first into the bag. With Logan Taylor at the plate, Mejia stole second and then added third when catcher Jose Queliz overthrew second baseman Fernery Ozuna into centerfield. Taylor then hit a routine grounder to third baseman Jeff Smith whose throw to first was in the dirt. Taylor was safely on first with an error and Mejia scored the first run of the tenth. Corey Simpson followed with a towering two run homer scoring Taylor.

The Hops mustered one run in the bottom of the tenth for the final score. Fernery Ozuna led off with a double down the third base line and into the corner. Luis Veras grounded out to second moving Ozuna to third. Zach Nehrir grounded out to short with Nehrir coming home on the throw to first.

Lane Ratliff started for the Aquasox going five innings with no runs on two hits. Ratliff allowed three walks and struck out four. Jefferson Arias (1-1) pitched the eighth and ninth innings for the win. Arias allowed two hits with no runs and struck out two. Kyle Wilcox (S-4) pitched the tenth inning for the save allowing one run on one hit with one strike out.

Cody Reed started for the Hops, pitching a respectable five innings with one run on three hits. Reed allowed one walk and struck out six. It would be Will Landsheft (1-2) who came on for the tenth inning tabbed with the loss. Landsheft allowed three runs on two hits while striking out one.

The Aquasox were the first to strike. In the top of the second, Yojhan Quevedo led off with a ground rule double over the left center field fence. Ryan Uhl followed with a loop single to left moving Quevedo to third. Luis Liberato grounded to short stop Sergio Alcantara who threw to Fernery Ozuna at second for the force. Ozuna tried for the double play throwing home to catch Quevedo but catcher Jose Queliz was unable to hold on to the throw as the runner crossed the plate.

Two more runs came for the Aquasox in the sixth. Brody Greer relieved starter Cody Reed on the mound. Erick Mejia reached first by striking out when catcher Jose Queliz allowed a passed ball on the third strike to the backstop and there was no throw to first. Greer followed by hitting Logan Tayor with a pitch, moving Mejia to second. Corey Simpson flew out to center and Mejia was able to grab third on the throw back to the infield. With Yojhan Quevedo at the plate, the Aquasox attempted the double steal. Taylor headed to second beating the throw. Mejia headed home on the throw to second. Yojhan Quevedo then hit a soft grounder that rolled under third baseman Nate Robinson’s glove. Short stop Sergio Alcantara backed up the play but had no throw resulting in runners at the corners. Ryan Uhl slapped a single into left field to score Taylor

The Hops finally started to chip away at the lead in the bottom of the sixth when Sergio Alcantara sent his second professional home run over the left field fence.

It would be the next inning, the seventh, when the Hops would tie the ball game. Josh Anderson led off the inning being hit by a pitch from Dylan Silva. Jose Queliz hit a high fly ball to right center that fell between fielders Logan Taylor and Luis Liberato on a miscommunication. Nate Robertson was hit by another pitch by Silva to load the bases. Jeff Smith blooped a single into right field scoring Anderson and keeping the bases loaded. Sergio Alcantara hit into a 6-4-3 double play scoring Queliz to tie the game and both teams would head to extra innings shortly after.

Ryan Uhl went 2 for 4 and earned an RBI for the Aquasox. Yojhan Quevedo went 2 for 5 and scored a run. Logan Taylor went 1 for 3, scoring two runs. Erick Mejia scored two runs while Corey Simpson would add another. Simpson also had two RBIs from his home run in the tenth.

Josh Anderson went 2 for 3 and scored a run for the Hops. Fernery Ozuna went 1 for 3 while scoring a run. Sergio Alcantara hit his home run in the sixth.

The Everett Aquasox (20-14) maintained their one game lead over the Tri-City Dust Devils for the North Division. The Hillsboro Hops (19-15) maintained their one game lead over the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes for the South Division. The Aquasox are now in sole possession of the league’s best record as they took the five-game series with the Hops 3-2.

The Hops travel to last place Boise for a three-game series. The Aquasox return home for a three-game series with the Spokane Indians. Both series start Thursday.  Four games remain for both teams to be played in the first half of the season.

Boxscore Provided by MiLB.com

By Greg Stoker
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