Even during an off-day, outfielder Ian Happ made things happen for the Emeralds.
He was credited with a hit and an RBI, but the Cubs’ 2015 first-round draft pick plated four runs on four productive at bats in Eugene’s walk-off 6-5 win Monday.
“He demands that respect,” manager Gary Van Tol said of Happ. “There’s always something that can happen with him at the plate.”
The Vancouver Canadians (8-11) chose not to pitch to Happ with runners in scoring position and a tie in the bottom of the ninth. Instead, they chose to pitch to Frandy De La Rosa, who delivered a fly ball deep enough to score the run and seal the victory at PK Park.
“I’m glad Frandy got the opportunity and was able to get it done,” Happ, who was in the on-deck circle when the game ended, said afterward. “I was just hoping to get the win for the team.”
The Emeralds (11-8) had to come from behind twice to stay in contention. Starting pitcher Carson Sands got them into hot water when he walked two batters to open the third inning. He recorded two outs but Canadians designated hitter Gunnar Heidt laced a two-out single past the diving Blake Headley. Both runners scored and the Canadians took a 2-0 lead.
Sands was not sharp, allowing two runs on three hits and four walks. He hadn’t allowed a walk in 16 innings in his three prior starts.
The Emeralds missed a big opportunity in the third. Canadians starting pitcher Jonathan Harris, the Toronto Blue Jays’ 2015 first-round draft pick, walked the first three batters in the bottom half of the third. Eugene settled for one as Happ grounded into a 4-6-3 double play and Justin Marra, who tallied 3 RBIs and hit his first home run in the Emeralds’ shutout win Sunday, struck out swinging.
The Emeralds nearly squandered another scoring chance in the fifth but were bailed out by sloppy defense. With one out and runners on second and third, Happ chopped a ground ball to second baseman Lane Thomas, who couldn’t field it cleanly. Kevonte Mitchell came around to score, as did Donnie Dewees, who bolted for home while Thomas reoriented himself.
“That was his call, scoring from third,” Van Tol said of the heads-up play. “Dewey did a great job reading, looking in and finding the baseball.”
The lead, however, was short-lived. In the sixth inning Sean Hurley blasted his fifth home run, a solo shot off Pedro Araujo. Araujo then conceded three hits with two outs, capped by Earl Burl III’s RBI go-ahead single.
Making his Emeralds debut at shortstop, 24th round draft pick Sutton Whiting bobbled a ground ball in the eighth inning that allowed Lane Thomas to reach base and eventually score an unearned run on a safety squeeze.
“That’s enough to break your back,” Van Tol said. “A lot of clubs would have just thrown in the towel.”
Down 5-3, Eugene fought back. De La Rosa crushed a double down the left field line, stole third and scored on Happ’s RBI groundout. Ian Rice knocked in the tying run with a two-out single in the bottom of the eighth.
The Emeralds then sealed the deal in a bizarre ninth inning.
Kevonte Mitchell led off with a walk then landed on third when the left and center fielders miscommunicated on a routine fly ball, allowing it to fall between them. The right fielder ended up dropping De La Rosa’s walk-off fly ball for two straight errors to end the game.
“Our guys found a way,” Van Tol said. “It was a total team effort. We weren’t great in some areas but battled back and put ourselves in a position to win the ball game. That’s all you can ask for.”
The Emeralds will take on Vancouver at home again Tuesday and Wednesday at 7:05 p.m.
Follow Kenny Jacoby on Twitter @KennyJacoby