EUGENE, Ore. — Once again the Emeralds’ second baseman, Cory Spangenberg, continues to show why the San Diego Padres selected him with the 10th-overall selection in this year’s Major League Baseball Draft.
Spangenberg came to the plate with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning with runners in scoring-position against the Volcanoes relief pitcher, Cody Hall, who had not allowed a run all season and hit a walk-off two-run single to left field on the first pitch he faced.
“It feels great, just to help the team win anyway possible is a good feeling,” Spangenberg said. “This is a great feeling, we have a great ball club here and just to keep on winning and persevering like we did here tonight was great.”
He continues to be the main offensive weapon for the Emeralds — the team has now extended its winning-streak to eight games. After going 2-for-5 at the plate in tonight’s game, Spangenberg continues to lead the Northwest League in on base percentage (.587) and is now leads in batting average (.432).
Cory Spangenberg leads the Northwest League in both batting average and on base percentage. // Photo: Alan K. Fox
When asked about his shortstop, Emeralds skipper Pat Murphy had nothing but great things to say.
“I’ll tell you, he’s a special player. He’s always at the same volume and it’s a good volume and he’s always there. He’s never too much higher and he’s never too much lower,” Murphy said. “Every pitch is important to him and he doesn’t take any pitches off, he doesn’t assume anything. He plays the pitch, and he’s a special kid.”
His two walk-off RBIs now have him ranked second in the NWL in RBIs with 14.
The Emeralds (11-2) started the scoring in the bottom of the first inning off a RBI-single to left field by Travis Whitmore – that scored Spangenberg from second with two outs.
Whitmore finished the game 2-for-4 with a double and a RBI.
Both pitching staffs seemed to find their grooves and there were no runs allowed for the next five innings, until Eugene’s relief pitcher, Jeremy Gigliotti, entered the game in the top of the seventh inning.
Salem-Keiser (2-11) took advantage of the Gigliotti as they scored two runs on three hits and two errors in 2/3 of an inning.
The Volcanoes, the single-A short season squad for the San Francisco Giants, scored both runs off a two-run single to center field from shortstop Joseph Panik — scoring outfielders Leonardo Ochoa and Jesus Galindo — both of which reached on back-to-back singles.
Gigliotti hit the next batter he faced and was pulled from the game.
It looked as if the two runs scored in the seventh were going to be enough after Hall entered the game in the in the eighth inning. He struck-out three of the first five Emeralds he faced and then he began to fall apart.
Hall then loaded the bases — before Spangenberg sealed the victory for Eugene with the walk-off single.
Matthew Colantonio batted 3-for-4 at the plate in the 3-2 win. // Photo: Alan K. Fox
The Emeralds and Volcanoes will wrap-up the three-game series June 30 at PK Park. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
Eugene will look to sweep its third consecutive series – something Murphy said he is not worried about.
“As a coach, you don’t worry about the wins and losses. You worry about how they’re playing,” Murphy said. “Of course, the outcomes affect a lot of how things, but you worry about putting them in good positions to win.”
Alan K. Fox can be reached at alanfoxjr@gmail.com and on Twitter @alankfox
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