With an opportunity to gain major ground on the first-place Hillsboro Hops, the Eugene Emeralds faltered during their five-game series with the last place Vancouver Canadians.
After taking the opener of the five-game series against the Canadians in extra innings, the Emeralds dropped the next four games by a combined score of 31-8. With the four losses, the Emeralds (16-18) are now ranked third in Northwest League South and are currently three games behind the Hops.
Game 1 (Eugene 4 – Vancouver 3 [11 innings]): The first game of the series proved to be the most exciting as Vancouver rallied for two runs in the bottom of the ninth, sending the game into extra innings. Eugene won the game in the top of the 11th when back-to-back doubles by Blake Headley and Adonis Paula brought in the winning run.
The Canadians struck first in the bottom of the second on a solo homerun by Sean Hurley over the left field fence.
Eugene responded with three total runs in the fourth, eighth and ninth innings. The Emeralds recorded three extra-base hits over those innings. Each of those batters would eventually score.
Eloy Jimenez, Kevonte Mitchell and Paula all recorded two hits and an RBI each for the Emeralds. Tyler Peitzmeier got the win by throwing 1.2 innings of scoreless ball while Tanner Griggs threw a scoreless 11th inning for his first save of the year.
Game 2 (Vancouver 16 – Eugene 5): It was nearly over after the first inning when Vancouver scored 10 runs on 10 hits to begin the game.
After giving up four more runs over the next two innings, the Emeralds got on the board in the fourth inning when they scored two runs to cut the deficit to 14-2. After a leadoff walk by Ian Happ, Jimenez doubled to put runners at second and third with no outs before back-to-back singles scored both of them.
In the fifth inning, doubles by Happ and Matt Rose scored two runs that made the deficit 14-4, but Vancouver tacked on its final two runs in the eighth inning, putting the game out of reach.
Eugene added its final run in the ninth inning when Happ hit into a fielder’s choice that scored Mitchell.
Happ, Jimenez and Paula all had two hits in the game while Rose led the Emeralds with three RBI’s.
Game 3 (Vancouver 8 – Eugene 0): The Emeralds were shut out for the third time in their past five games as they recorded just five hits.
Eugene went down 1-2-3 in four of the nine innings played and only got a runner to third base in two innings.
Ricardo Mercano led the Emeralds with two hits in the game while Justin Marra added a double.
Game 4 (Vancouver 3 – Eugene 1): Eugene’s offensive woes continued into the fourth game of the series when totaled one run on five hits.
After failing to score through the first eight innings of the game, the Emeralds finally pushed a run across the plate in the top of the ninth while trailing 3-0.
With one out, Jimenez ended Eugene’s 17-inning scoreless streak with a solo blast to left field, his third of the season.
Oscar De La Cruz had a solid outing for the Emeralds as he threw six innings, surrendering two runs (one earned) on four hits with three strikeouts. Greyfer Eregua threw the final two frames for Eugene, giving up one run on two hits with two strikeouts.
Game 5 (Vancouver 4 – Eugene 2): After the Canadians took a 1-0 lead into the second inning, the Emeralds responded with two runs to take their first lead of the series in 28 innings.
The lead was short lived as Vancouver scored three runs over the next two inning for the 4-2 lead and hung on to win by that same score.
Justin Marra led off the second inning with a walk for Eugene before Rose came up and belted a two-run blast over the left field fence. The homerun was Rose’s second of the season.
Jose Paulino suffered his third loss of the season after giving up four runs over three innings. Only one of the runs was earned as a combination of one walk, two errors and a wild pitch led to the three unearned runs.
Follow Ryan Kostecka on Twitter: @Ryan_Kostecka