Photo from Geek Wire
It was a beautiful yet cloudy trip over Snoqualmie pass for the Dust Devils as they headed to Everett, Wa, to take on the Aqua Sox, the Mariners High-A affiliate.
Starting on Tuesday, 6/14, the Dust Devils started Nick Mondak; Mondack went 5IP, giving up 5ER in the contest against a bullpen day for the Aqua Sox. The Aquasox were able to capitalize with runners on base early in this contest; by the 5th inning, the Aquasox had a 5-0 lead over the Dust Devils. C Podaras for the Dust Devils was able to come through with runners on as he delivered a single to score 2, making the score 5-2. After this, the offense wasn't entirely done; in the 6th inning, 1B Gabe Matthews hit his 7th home run to cut the lead to 5-4. Despite Kyren, he was getting HBP and his 14th steal of the season in the 8th. The Dust Devils came up short 5-4 in this one.
Game two came on Wednesday, 6/15, as the Dust Devils sent NW Pitcher of the week Landon Marceaux to the mound. Marceaux had a quality start in this one, going 6IP, with 4ER, 1BB, and 8K, pushing his season ERA to 3.60. The Aquasox opted for yet another bullpen game for this contest. The Aqua Sox got out to a quick lead in this one, scoring 2R in the first; the Dust Devils took until the 4th to match the energy when OF Mike Peabody hit his 5th HR of the year to tie the score 2-2. However, the Aquasox weren't done fighting as they added two more in the 6th with a 2rHR from C Andy Thomas and again in the 8th on a sac fly by INF Mike Salvatore. The Dust Devils didn't match the energy and lost game 2 5-2.
It was time for the Dust Devils to get the bats into game three. Thursday brought a more traditional matchup of SP for each side as the Dust Devils had RHP Robinson Pina take the hill against Aqua Sox RHP Jimmy Joyce. Pina had a strong line for the visitors going 6IP, 3H, 2ER, 2BB, and 6K. The story wasn't the pitching in this one for the Dust Devils as the offense came alive as OF Jordyn Adams(1), OF D'Shawn Knowles(2), SS Kyren Paris(3), 1B Gabe Matthews(4), each was able to help the offense score ten total runs. Gabe Matthews had 2HR in this one, and Kyren Paris was able to get his 1st HR of the 2022 season in the contest. The Aqua Sox scored 4R in this game between HRs from INF James Parker, his 4th of the season, and 1B Dariel Gomez, his 12th of the season. The Dust Devils won this contest 10-4 and were able to bring the series to 1-2 going into game 4.
Going into game four looking to tie the series at two a piece. It was a combined effort for the pitching staff in this one as LHP Jose Salvador made his 2nd start for the Dust Devils, going 7IP, 4H, 1BB, and 5K. RHP Emilker Guzman followed Salvador, and then RHP Nathan Burns earned the save in this one. The game was tired until C Straton Podaras could be the offense for the Dust Devils with a 2rHR in the 8th and the pitching did the rest. The Dust Devils were able to earn Salvador his first win at the High-A level and even the series 2-2.
HAPPY MASCOT DAY to Dusty and all the other unique mascots that are around sports, and we are spoiled with Dusty as fans of our Dust Devils. RHP Ryan Costieu got the nod for the Dust Devils on this hill in this one going 4.2IP, 2R, 1ER, 6H, 3BB, and 8K on the evening, who went against AquaSox RHP Prelander Berroa, who set the AquaSox up nicely in this one going 5IP, 1BB and 8K. The Aquasox took a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the 5th with HRs from OF Victor Labrada and C Charlie Welch. The Dust Devils matched the energy in the top of the 6th, scoring three total runs between a throwing error and a past ball. However, the effort was little as AquaSox INF Justin Lavey was able to extend the lead to 5-3, and the pitching did the rest to win the game for the Aquasox and take a series lead heading into Fathers Day/ Juneteenth game six.
Happy Father's Day to all the dads and father figures out there. Both sides in the final of this series went with a bullpen day. The Dust Devils jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the 2nd on the back of some well-placed singles and took advantage of the defensive miscues by the AquaSox. However, the Aquaso were able to bring the game to a 4-4 tie on the back of throwing errors and an HR from Mike Salvatore. However, the Dust Devils had to win this game to split the series evenly, thanks to solo shots from Steven Rivas and Edwin Yon in the 8th. The Dust Devils were able to win this one 6-4 and split the series with the Aqua Sox.
Up next for the Dust Devils is a seven games in 6 days against the Eugene Emeralds in Eugene, Oregon, for the 2nd week of the 2-week road trip.
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