EUGENE, Ore – On a night that the Eugene Emeralds could have clinched the first half title in the Northwest League West Division, they were unable to even claim a run against the Everett Aquasox on Sunday evening and were shut out 3-0.
The loss now positions Eugene (24-13), the Single-A team for the San Diego Padres, in a tie for first place with the Vancouver Canadians with one game remaining on the first half of the NWL season, so for the Emeralds to clinch the playoff birth they will have to win and hope for a Canadians loss.
While the Emeralds where able to put the bat on the ball there was no scoring to count for – Eugene finished the game with five hits off of the Everett pitching staff.
Both starting pitchers pitched scoreless baseball and the Emeralds’ starter, Matthew Andriese threw six strikeouts in his five innings of work.
Eugene had chances to score but was unable to do so. The team finished hitless with players in scoring position and they had left four possible runs sitting at third base on the final out of an inning.
On the offensive end, Mike Gallic lead the way for the Emeralds at the plate finishing the game 2-for-4 and was the only Eugene player with more then one hit,
The Emeralds also finished the game with six steals.
The Aquasox (15-22), who represent the Seattle Mariners in the NWL, starting pitcher Stephen Kohlscheen pitched six innings and finished the game with three strikeouts of his own.
In the seventh inning Everett scored the first run of the game on a wild pitch by the Emeralds relief pitcher, Cody Hebner – scoring Jharmidy De Jesus from third. The wild pitch was the second in the same at-bat for Hebner.
After a scoreless eighth inning the Aquasox closed out their final inning with a two-run rally putting them up 3-0.
De Jesus started the top of the ninth inning off with a double with a line drive to center field and two at-bats later Ramon Moria hit a home run over the left-field fence closing out the scoring for the game.
The Emeralds and Aquasox will continue their three-game series tomorrow at PK Park. 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