Eugene Emeralds’ Donavan Tate continues to show growth against Volcanoes

KEISER, Ore. – The Eugene Emeralds once again showed showed that the game is not over until the final inning is finished — by having another late game rally to come back and win a game against the Salem-Keiser Volcanoes, 4-3.

The rally came in the top of the eighth inning when the Emeralds scored two runs to go ahead for good. The first run of the inning came off of a RBI double by Donavan Tate. After the double — he stole third base and later scored on a wild pitch by Volcanos’ pitcher Raymundo Montero.

Tate who was the No. 3 pick in the 2009 draft and signed a club-high $6.7 million signing bonus, seems to be hitting his groove after starting the season 0-for-14 at the plate he has bounced back and has been 6-for 14 since the slow start.

Former No. 3 pick Donavan Tate has battled back from an early season slump to lead the Emeralds to a come-back win against the Volcanoes. // Photo: Alan K. Fox

He finished the game 2-for-4 with a double, triple, two runs and a RBI.

The Volcanoes (1-5) starting the scoring in the bottom of the first inning when shortstop Joseph Panik hit his second homerun of the season over the right field fence.

In the sixth inning, the Emeralds (4-2) scored their first two runs of the game. The scoring came from Tate, who reached earlier in the inning with a triple to centerfield, when he scored off an error by Panik. Second baseman Cory Spangenberg would score from third base on the next at-bat when Mykal Stokes hit into a ground out – putting the Emeralds ahead 2-1.

The lead would be short lived due to a two-run seventh inning by the Volcanoes.

Daniel Burkhart, the team’s catcher, hit his first home run of the season as he led off the inning. The Volcanoes scored the second the go ahead run with two outs when center fielder Shawn Payne singled and designated hitter Daniel Brock scored from third.

Then the Emeralds bounced back with their eighth inning rally.

The Emeralds and Volcanoes will play game two of the three game series June 23 in Keiser, Ore. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.