Spokane Indians drop sloppy game in Everett

EVERETT – Wednesday night’s Northwest League action saw a comedy of errors between the Spokane Indians and Everett AquaSox, as nine errors were committed between the teams in a seesaw affair the AquaSox won 8-7.

Spokane starting pitcher Tyree Thompson held off the AquaSox for five innings, allowing four earned runs on five hits, striking out five while walking two.

Chad Smith began the game with his team-leading 13th double against Everett starter Brian McAfee. He scored on shortstop Chris Torres’ first error, which allowed Matt Whatley to reach second base.

Whatley scored on Clayton Middleton’s RBI single to give Spokane a 2-0 lead in the first inning.

Curtis Terry reached first base on Torres’ second throwing error of the game to begin the second. He scored on Smith’s second double of the game for a 3-0 lead.

Everett left fielder Greifer Andrade hit his fourth home run of the season to cut Spokane’s lead to 3-1 in the second. Also in the second, two walks, a hit by pitch and a balk loaded the bases for Austin Grebeck, whose RBI grounder reduced the Indians’ lead to a single run.

Torres then atoned for his first two errors with a two-run single for a 4-3 lead.

The Indians tied to game in the top of the third with Whatley’s RBI double.

Terry was hit by a pitch in the fourth, and the slugger went on to record his first stolen base of the season. However, the Indians’ offense couldn’t capitalize.

The Indians also couldn’t deliver after loading the bases in the fifth.

Anjul Hernandez took over pitching duties for the AquaSox in the sixth and issued a leadoff walk to Smith. Whatley’s two-run homer gave Spokane a 6-4 lead.

In the seventh, Torres’ third fielding error of the game allowed Austin O’Banion to reach first. He scored on Torres’ second error of the inning (and fourth of the game) to boost the edge to 7-4.

Everett tied the game with a three-run seventh, aided by two errors. Johnny Adams’ 12th double of the season drove in two runs to knot the score.

Spokane nearly seized the lead in the eighth. O’Banion had a two-out double, but Tyler Ratliff was thrown out at home while attempting to score from first.

Everett scored the winner in the eighth with a leadoff double, sacrifice bunt and Indians error.

Closer Matt Clancy took over in the ninth and worth a 1-2-3 inning for his fourth save. Terry and manager Matt Hagen were ejected in the ninth for arguing balls and strikes.

The teams will complete the series at 11:05 a.m. Thursday.