The Everett Aquasox turned the tables on the Hillsboro Hops 5-3 Friday night to even the five-game series at 1-1.  Like the Hops on Thursday, the Aquasox hit hard and early, not allowing the Hops to catch up behind the pitching of Everett starter Michael Suarez.

Everett sent seven batters to the plate in the bottom of the first and established a 3-0 lead.  With one out, Joseph Rosa sliced a line drive to right and used his speed to turn it into a triple.  He came home on a fielding error by third baseman Eudy Ramos.  With two out and Eugene Helder and Jonas Lantigua in scoring position, Onil Pena slapped a single to left, scoring both runners.  When the dust settled, it was Everett who had the early first inning lead that they would not give up.

Two more runs increased the lead to 5-0.  Greifer Andrade solo homered to left in the sixth.  Later, Austin Grebeck walked, stole second and took third on a wild pitch before Joseph Rosa doubled him home in the seventh.

The Hops finally reached the score board in the eighth.  In the seven previous innings, the Hops managed only two singles.  This time, Stephen Smith and Dominga Leyba smacked two singles back to back.  Smith came home after a throwing error by center fielder Brayan Hernandez.  It turned out to be a hint of things to come.

After pitcher Ted Hammond took the mound in the ninth for the Aquasox and hopefully close out the game, the Hops delivered three singles in a row from Eudy Ramos, Kyle Smith and Yan Sanchez to load the bases with no outs.  Before Bryan Araiza could come to the plate as the potential tying run, Everett brought in reliever David Ellingson for Hammond.  Araiza lined out to second baseman Eugene Helder who saved the Aquasox at least two runs.  Ellingson did give the Hops another chance with a wild throw that scored Ramos and moved the two other runners into scoring position.

Luke Lowry sent a fast grounder to first baseman Jonas Lantigua for the second out allowing Kyle Smith to come home on the play making the score 5-3.  That would turn out to be the final score.  Paxton De La Garza, another potential tying run at the plate, popped up a foul to right field to end the game.

Michael Suarez (W, 1-0) was the commanding reason why Everett won tonight.  The starting pitcher went five innings allowing only one hit and no runs.  Of the 15 outs while he was on the mound, Suarez struck out eight batters while walking one.

With the late inning surge, the Hops outhit the Aquasox seven hits to six.  Yan Sanchez went 2 for 4 and five other Hops added one hit each.

The winning team was led by the bats of Greifer Andrade (2 for 4, solo home run), Joseph Rosa (2 for 4, double triple, run and RBI) and Onil Pena (1 for 3, two RBI).

Mitchell Aker (L, 0-1) debuted and started for the Hops.  After weathering the initial three-run first inning bleeding, Aker settled down and allowed one more run over the next five innings.  Only two of his runs allowed were earned.  Anfernee Benitez came to the mound for the final two innings and limited the Aquasox to one earned run on one hit.

The Hillsboro Hops (1-1) fell to one half game out of first behind the Boise Hawks (1-0).  The Everett Aquasox (1-1) remained one game out of first behind the Vancouver Canadians (2-0).

Both teams return to Everett Memorial Stadium for game three of the five game series.  Starting pitchers are expected to be RHP Carlos Hernandez (0-0) for the Hops and RHP Cody Mobly (0-0) for the Aquasox.  Hernandez is with the team on an injury rehab assignment.

By Greg Stoker

@GDStoker