For the seventh time in eight games this season, the Eugene Emeralds lost to the Everett AquaSox. The Emeralds threatened to rally on Friday in a 6-3 defeatz, but couldn’t surmount the deficit over the final three innings.
The Emeralds (8-8 in the 2nd half) lost four of five against Everett (10-6) to start the season, and have now lost three straight in another five-game series.
“I was definitely looking forward to seeing them this time around in the second half just to see how they’ve improved since that first series,” Emeralds manager Gary Van Tol said. “Also to kind of measure where we’re at. I give the edge to them right now. Just in how they’ve approached this series, they’re doing some things to win ballgames.”
Right-handed pitcher Oscar De La Cruz got the start for the Emeralds, and was tested almost immediately. On only his second pitch of the game, Cruz gave up a leadoff single to Braden Bishop. Four batters later, Alex Jackson’s three-run homer gave Everett a quick 3-0 edge in the top of the first.
A sacrifice fly in the second and a solo home run in the fourth gave the AquaSox five runs, and De La Cruz’s night was over soon thereafter.
“Those two home runs they hit, they earned them,” Van Tol said. “You gotta earn it to get out of this park. That was the difference, really.”
The Emeralds fought back in the third inning following Ricardo Marcano’s score from third to narrow the gap 5-1. Eloy Jimenez’s RBI single scored Donnie Dewees, and suddenly, the Emeralds offense showed signs of life. But back-to-back outs from Ian Rice and Andrew Ely ended the inning abruptly.
Pedro Araujo kept the AquaSox at bay when he relieved De La Cruz to start the fifth. For the three innings that followed, Araujo allowed no hits, struck out six batters and gave up no walks.
“He’s been solid all year out of the ‘pen and that’s why he was recognized as an all-star,” Van Tol said. “It’s nice to bring him in with the lead, but we had to bring him in to keep it close too.”
Araujo’s strong pitching opened the door for the Emeralds offense. In the sixth, Blake Headley’s RBI triple scored Tyler Alamo. The Emeralds were within striking distance at 5-3, which prompted Everett manager Rob Mummau to bring on Joseph Pistorese from the bullpen. Pistorese walked Adonis Paula, but calmly retired Marcano on the next at bat.
“These guys have a good pitching staff,” Van Tol said. “They’re running out some left-handed pitching, we’re gonna see another one tomorrow and another one on Sunday. We’re gonna at least be plenty adjusted to some left-handed arms.”
The Emeralds will play Everett in the fourth of their five-game series at 7:05 tomorrow evening at PK Park.
Follow Will Denner on Twitter @Will_Denner