Ratliff, Novoa have three hits apiece to help Spokane Indians outlast Everett

EVERETT – Tyler Ratliff and Melvin Novoa led a 15-hit attack with three hits apiece and the Spokane Indians outlasted the Everett AquaSox 12-8 in the second of a three-game Northwest League series at Everett Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

Ratliff went 3 for 3 with a homer and three RBIs, while Novoa went 3 for 5 with a pair driven in.

NWL All-Star starter Cole Ragans was roughed up, allowing six runs – five earned – on eight hits and two walks over 3 1/3 innings. But it was not a good day for any of the pitchers as the teams combined for 20 runs and 27 hits, with five errors behind them.

Everett took the first lead in the second inning, as Joe Venturino’s line-drive single to right field plated two runs. The Indians limited the damage by hitting the cut-off man and getting the out tag at second base to end the inning.

The Indians (5-1, 21-23) plated three in the third. With one down, Miguel Aparicio popped his first home run of the season. Yonny Hernandez walked, stole second and went to third on the catcher’s throwing error. Ratliff followed with an RBI single.

Novoa then singled – extending his hitting streak to 18 games, tying LeDarious Clark for the longest for the Indians since start of the 2015 season – and Matt Whatley drew a walk. Cristian Inoa’s sacrifice fly to center brought home Ratliff, but Novoa was thrown out trying to advance to third.

The AquaSox (2-4, 19-25) used back-to-back doubles in the bottom half of the inning to tie it at 3-3.

Spokane loaded the bases with one out in the fourth on a double by Kobie Taylor, a single by Josh McReynolds and a base on balls for Aparicio. Hernandez hit a comebacker and Taylor scored, then Ratliff drove in another run with a line-drive single to left.

But Everett answered again. In the bottom of the fourth, the Sox scored three more runs – the big blow coming on Ronald Rosario’s two-run triple. Rosario later scored on a single by Joseph Rosa.

In the fifth, the Indians went back to work. With two down, Inoa singled and went to third on a single by Kole Enright. Taylor reached on a throwing error by the third baseman, allowing Inoa and Enright to score.

Aparicio led off the sixth with a single and he went to second on a bunt attempt by Hernandez. Ratliff drew a free pass, then Novoa laced a double to center which brought home both runners to give the Indians a 9-6 lead.

Once again, Everett responded. Juan Camacho led off with a walk, then Venturino’s line-drive single to left was misplayed by Taylor allowing Camacho to score and Venturino ended up at third. Venturino tried to score on a grounder to first, but Ratliff threw him out at the plate.

Ratliff added a solo home run, his fourth of the season, in the ninth inning. Whatley later scored on a sacrifice fly and Taylor drove in a run with a single.

The teams wrap up the three-game set on Sunday at 4:05 p.m. before the three-day All-Star break.