EVERETT, Wash. — The Eugene Emeralds swept their second-consecutive series when they capped-off the three-game series against the Everett Aquasox with a 3-1 victory.
Unlike Sunday’s game where the Emeralds offense exploded for 19 hits and 14 runs, Eugene looked to its pitching staff to secure the sweep.
Kevin Quackenbush, the Emeralds closing pitcher, entered the game and earned the save — his Northwest League-leading fifth save. He has also not allowed a run all season.
The Emeralds’ (9-2) have now extended their winning-streak to six games and haven’t lost a game since the final game of the season’s first series against the Boise Hawks.
Cory Spangenberg has helped lead the surge by the Emeralds this season // Photo: Alan K. Fox
The scoring started in the second inning for both teams with each team scoring one run.
Eugene, the San Diego Padres Single-A short season team, scored in the top of the second off of a RBI double from first baseman Zach Kometani which scored catcher Jeremy Rodriguez from first. Rodriguez reached first on a walk the prior at-bat.
The Aquasox (3-8), the Seattle Mariners Single-A short season team, bounced back in the bottom of the second with a two-out homerun by second baseman Jorge Agudelo over the left-field fence.
After a back-and-forth defensive battle for five innings the Emeralds where able to jump ahead with a two-run eighth inning.
The scoring sparked when the Padres two first round picks came to the plate.
Second baseman Cory Spangenberg, the10th overall pick in this years’ draft, reached base off a single to center field, and two at-bats later shortstop Jace Peterson hit a RBI-double to score Spangenberg — putting Eugene ahead for good.
The Emeralds scored the last run of the game off of a RBI-single by Rodriguez.
Spangenberg continues to stay hot and finished the game 2-for-4 — raising his batting average to .405 — which ranks sixth in the Northwest League. He also leads the NWL in on base percentage (.566).
The Emeralds start a three-game home series against in-state rival Salem-Keiser Volcanoes tonight at 7:05 p.m.
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