Mail Tribune Sports - TJs drop guard, fall to faltering AquaSox

Mail Tribune (Medford, OR — Wayback)

2000-09-14

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TJs drop guard, fall to faltering AquaSox By KRIS HENRY EVERETT, Wash. -- Southern Oregon received a wake-up call Saturday in opening its second road trip of the season. Struggling at 1-6 entering the game, the Everett AquaSox took advantage of seven Timberjack errors to win 6-5 and send Southern Oregon to only its second Northwest League loss of the season. The Southern Division-leading Timberjacks (7-2) will attempt to right the ship today in the second game of a five-game series with Everett. Needing only one hit, the AquaSox (2-6) surged to a 2-0 lead in the second inning off TJs starter Shane Bazzell (1-1). After a Kevin Robles single and a one-out walk to Gorky Estrella, Juan Alcala hit a grounder to third baseman Matt Howe, but the relay throw was high and loaded the bases. Ruben Castillo followed with a grounder that went under the glove of shortstop Carlos Rosario, allowing one run to score. Willie Bloomquist hit a sacrifice fly to drive in the other run. The Timberjacks rallied for two runs in the top of the fourth to tie the game at 2-all. After a one-out single by Jorge Soto, Howe reached base on a fielder's choice. Jeremy Schied doubled to right and Kirk Asche walked to load the bases. Gerald Laird followed with a grounder up the middle that was nabbed by second baseman Bloomquist but thrown too late to get Laird. Taking advantage of the situation, Howe and Shied both scored on the play. Everett rallied with four runs in the fifth to take control of the game, with Termell Sledge smacking a leadoff triple and then scoring when Rosario's throwing error to first allowed Shawn Parnell to reach safely. Robles followed with an RBI double and Mike Abate singled to put an end to Bazzell's day. TJs pitcher Keith Surkont wasn't able to fare much better in relief. After an intentional walk to Estrella loaded the bases, Alcala drove in a run on a fielder's choice and Castillo slapped an RBI single. Southern Oregon's Soto led off the sixth inning with a home run to left field, while Howe doubled and Schied added an RBI single to cut the TJs deficit to 6-4. Today's Sports Index Mail Tribune   Copyright� The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, OR U.S.A.