EUGENE, Ore. – In what looked to be an eye sore for the Emeralds in the third inning of the team’s season opener proved to be what sealed the 5-4 victory for the San Diego Padres’ minor league club over the Boise Hawks on June 17.
The Emeralds pitching staff looked to be in trouble in the top of the third inning when starting pitcher Johnny Barbato, who finished the game with five strikeouts, walked three Hawk batters with two outs, loading the bases.
Pitching coach Nelson Cruz then pulled the plug on Barbato for relief pitcher Greg Gonzalez, who walked the first batters that he faced that walked in two runs for the Boise squad, who is a minor league team for the Chicago Cubs, making the 4-1 in favor of the Hawks.
Gonzalez would then find his groove and pitched 2 2/3 innings and never allowed a run.
The pitching staff would never look back after the third and never allowed a run.
Emeralds third baseman Clint Moore celebrates after on of his two singles on the day. // Photo: Alan K. Fox
“I’m really pleased with our pitching,” Skipper, Pat Murphy said. “Johnny struggled a little and Gonzalez came in and scuffled, but after the third inning, we were pretty solid.”
Both teams combined for a total of 14 walks.
Murphy said that he feels that the rough inning may have been what built the spark for his team.
“You don’t like to walk that many guys, and you don’t like to walk them in bunches, but we kept our composure and we kept the pressure on,” Murphy said.
Eugene’s offense responded in both the fourth and third innings scoring three runs and evening the score, 4-4.
After a quiet seventh inning, Eugene looked as if they were going to claim the lead after left fielder Jose Dore reached first with a single as he lead off the inning then stole second during the next at-bat and reached third on error throw by Hawks catcher Yaniel Cabezas.
Cabezas would receive redemption on a bad pitch by Jose Rosario, which hit the backstop, and the catcher was able to catch Dore at the plate to keep the game even at 4-4.
The Emeralds didn’t let the mishap slow them down and then Daniel Garce reached base on an error at the next at-bat, which was followed by a single by Dore.
Hector Mayora, who came in relief in the seventh inning, would then walk the next two batters bringing in Garce in for the game-winning run.
Jorge Minyety celebrates with teammate Kyle Gaedele after he scores the go-ahead run in the eighth inning for the Emeralds. // Photo: Alan K. Fox
In the top of the ninth inning the Emeralds closing pitcher Kevin Quackenbush and he would earn the save by striking out two of the three final Hawk batters.
The Emeralds third baseman Clint Moore, a 31st round draft pick in the 2011 draft, was a force to be reckoned on the offensive end with in his first game as an Emerald. He finished the game batting 3-for-4 with two doubles and run scored.
“It was a great experience, it’s a great atmosphere here and the fans are great,” Moore said. “It’s just nice to get out and play ball again.”
The first year player gave credit to the bullpen for the success of the team more then his performance at the plate.
“First off it was a great win. I feel that our bullpen kept us in the game; they came in throwing strikes,” Moore said. “It was nice to get some hits to start off the season.”
The crowd of 3,352 was then treated with a fireworks show sponsored by a local casino after the victory.
Game two of the five game series will be June 18 at P.K. Park with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
Alan K. Fox can be reached at alanfoxjr@gmail.com and on Twitter @alankfox
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