Gomez's Walk-Off Single Ends Six-Game Skid for Everett AquaSox

The Everett AquaSox picked up a much-needed win on Friday at Funko Field, getting a walk-off single from Dariel Gomez to beat the Tri-City Dust Devils 4-3 and end a six-game losing streak.

Everett had dropped the first three games of its six-game series with Tri-City before Friday. The Sox led 2-0 for most of the game, but Tri-City scored three runs with two outs in the top of the seventh to take a 3-2 advantage heading into the ninth.

In the bottom of the ninth, James Parker, Victor Labrada and Charlie Welch each drew a walk on a full count, loading the bases with nobody out. Gomez fouled off the first pitch, then grounded the second one into right field for the game-winning single.

"Those (walks) were all unbelievable at-bats," manager Eric Farris said. He said hitters worked deep counts and battled with two strikes, adding that stacking those at-bats together puts pressure on a pitcher and gave Gomez a chance to win it.

Players sprinted out of the dugout to celebrate with Gomez, and two of them chased him around the outfield with a water cooler as he tried to avoid a drenching. Farris said the team had lost many close games, and that ending the night on a high note was important. "The boys needed it," he said.

The good feeling did not carry into the weekend finale. Tri-City beat Everett 18-2 on Sunday, and the Sox finished the series 2-4. Everett is 5-9 overall and in sixth place in the six-team league.

Farris pointed to positives despite the result. He noted that Everett played in many tight games outside of Sunday's, that pitchers threw strikes in difficult situations and that the offense kept getting on base. "I think we'll see growth in a short time," he said.

Welch, a catcher who may be a part-time player, stood out against Tri-City. In three games he went 5-for-10 with a double, two home runs, four runs scored and four RBI, and he caught quality starts by Isaiah Campbell and Jimmy Joyce.

On the mound, Bryce Miller threw six scoreless innings of one-hit ball on Friday, walking three and striking out five. A fourth-round pick of the Seattle Mariners in the 2021 draft, Miller is ranked by MLB.com as the organization's 23rd-best prospect. He was named Northwest League Pitcher of the Week.

Everett stays home this week for a six-game series against the Spokane Indians, a Colorado Rockies affiliate. Spokane is 7-8 and tied for fourth, 1.5 games ahead of the Sox, so a strong series could lift Everett out of last place. The Indians feature outfielder Zac Veen, the ninth overall pick in 2020 and MLB.com's 35th-ranked prospect in baseball, and catcher Drew Romo, ranked second among Colorado prospects. Left-hander Joe Rock is 2-1 with a 1.59 ERA and has 21 strikeouts in 17 innings.