Indians Make Aquasox Pay For Shoddy Defense

Jeff Garber became the most “successful” manager in the Kansas City Royals’ farm system Wednesday, but he certainly received help from the fumble-fingered Everett AquaSox.

The Spokane Indians scored twice in the bottom of the ninth inning to rally past Everett 3-2. The AquaSox committed two errors in the fateful frame and could have been credited with a third.

One error ended the game. With the bases loaded and nobody out, Spokane’s Eric Sees grounded to shortstop Brian Lindner. The throw home was on time - and ruled an out until catcher Brian Nelson dropped the ball.

Indians batting coach Garber, given a chance to run the club by manager Bob Herold, accepted his 1-0 record with good nature, knowing Spokane (36-39) received a fortunate boost.

“It was a good opportunity because I hope to manage some day,” said Garber, who took Herold’s usual post in the third-base coaching box..

“It was exciting for me, and certainly gave me a different perspective of the game.”

The loss assured Everett (33-41) of last place in the Northwest League North Division. Spokane will finish in third place for the third time in four years.

The teams complete their seasons at 7:05 tonight, with Spokane’s Ryan Brewer (2-2, 3.58) scheduled to start against Dennis Stark (1-2, 4.00).

Tonight’s starters will be pressed to match Wednesday’s. Spokane’s Enrique Calero struck out six and allowed no runs in five innings. Joe Mays of Yakima allowed one run and four hits in six innings

Everett tied the game off Aaron Lineweaver in the seventh. The AquaSox, who put the leadoff runner aboard in four of the first six innings, rallied with two out on James Rowson’s double and Lindner’s single.

In the ninth, against Alonso Aguilar (2-2), Nelson drew Everett’s first walk. After two grounders moved Nelson to third, he scored when Lindner’s grounder went through Kris Didion’s legs at third base.

“Things like that happen,” said Spokane catcher Roman Escamilla. “That ball was scorched. It turned out not to be a big deal because we won.”

Spokane’s ninth began with Brandon Berger’s bloop single over first base off Rafael Rivera. Everett saves leader Robert Luce relieved and coaxed Kit Pellow’s grounder to second. Roman Valera, ranging to his left, thought about a double play and lost control. The play was ruled a hit.

Carlos Beltran then dropped a perfect sacrifice that Luce bobbled for the first official error. Escamilla, whose grounder drove in a second-inning run, tied the game with a bloop single to right.

“I just got lucky,” Escamilla said. “I hit it off the end of the bat and it fell in. In the boxscore, we’ll call it 1 for 3, with a laser.”

Sees followed with his game-ending grounder.

“Three errors and a bleeder,” said Everett manager Roger Hansen, who counted Pellow’s grounder as a miscue.”There you have it. There’s not much you can say.”

“The big play was when Kit got his (grounder) over to the right,” Garber said. “He did a good job with two strikes to ‘stay short’ and take it that way.”

Notes

Spokane catcher Juan Robles (.275) was promoted to Class A Lansing (Mich.) of the Midwest League. … Fireworks will be shot off after tonight’s game.

, DataTimes