KEISER, Ore. – In what seems to be a constant habit for the Eugene Emeralds — making late inning rallies — happened again last night when they swept the three-game series against the Salem-Keiser Volcanoes by the score of 6-3.
Pinch hitter Clint Moore broke open the tie with a two-run double to left field with two outs in the top of the eighth inning.
The Emeralds (6-2), a farm team for the San Diego Padres, started the scoring off in the fourth inning by putting three runs on the scoreboard.
The scoring started when left fielder Mykal Stokes hit his first homerun of the season — a two run shot scoring designated hitter Lee Orr, who reached base the previous at-bat.
The final run of the inning came off of a sacrifice fly to left field by Travis Whitmore to score first baseman Daniel Garce, putting the Emeralds up 3-0.
Salem-Keiser (1-7), who has set a team-record with seven consecutive losses, responded with a run of their own in the bottom of the fourth by a RBI double by first baseman Brice Cutspec.
After a scoreless fifth inning for Eugene the Volcanoes, the single A team for the San Francisco Giants, tied the score at three runs apiece with a two-run bottom of the fifth.
Left fielder Shawn Payne put the first run of the inning on a RBI single scoring center fielder Jesus Galindo from third. Payne would later score a run of his own on a sacrifice fly by catcher Mike Murray.
Clint Moore entered the game in the eighth inning and hit a go-ahead two-run double. // Photo: Alan K. Fox
Eugene’s starting pitcher Juan Herrera was pulled after allowing three runs in 4 1/3 innings.
The Emeralds used five other relief pitchers to complete the remaining 4 2/3 innings – allowing no more runs.
First-year pitcher Jeremy Gigliotti earned his third winning of the season (3-0) and Kevin Quackenbush also earned his third save of the year.
After the two-run double by Moore in the eighth inning, shortstop Jace Peterson put the final run of the game on scoreboard with a RBI double to centerfield — scoring Moore from second.
Eugene’s Cory Spangenberg, the 10th overall pick in this year’s draft, raised his Northwest League-leading on base percentage to .605 and he also ranks sixth in batting average.
The Emeralds start a three-game series against the Everett Aquasox in Everett, Wash tonight. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
Alan K. Fox can be reached at alanfoxjr@gmail.com and on Twitter @alankfox
Leave a Reply