Everett crashes Riddoch’s birthday

It wasn’t the kind of birthday present Greg Riddoch was hoping for.

J.B. Tucker was 2 for 4 with a home run and five RBIs as the Everett AquaSox ruined the Spokane Indians manager’s 60th birthday Sunday by spanking Spokane 13-5 in Everett.

Everett jumped out early, scoring three times in the first inning on RBI doubles by Luis Valbuena and Jeff Flaig and a sacrifice fly by Tucker.

The AquaSox, who scored in each of the first five innings, totaling 11 runs, got another run in the bottom of the second via a solo home run by Bryan Sabatella.

Spokane cut the deficit to one after Phillip Hawke and Jonathan Higashi each had RBI singles in the top of the third inning.

But Everett scored twice more in the bottom of the third on an RBI double by Tucker and an error by Spokane third baseman Joseph Hooft.

Lance Beus (1-0) earned the win with two innings of relief work.

Indians starter Kellan McConnell (2-3) was shelled in three innings of work, giving up six earned runs on eight hits. The AquaSox totaled 18 hits, with Daniel Santin and Flaig getting four apiece. Santin also drove in three runs.

Spokane collected 12 hits, but couldn’t keep up with Everett’s offense.

Left fielder Joe Kemp was 2 for 3 with a homer, an RBI and two runs scored for Spokane, and Phillip Hawke and David Peterson each went 2 for 4 with an RBI.

The Indians will return to action tonight at 7 p.m. for the third game of their five-game series at Everett. Spokane will return to Avista Stadium Thursday against Tri-City.