In the second game of a five-game series against the Tri-City Dust Devils, the Eugene Emeralds ended their five-game losing streak with a 5-2 win.
Alonso Garcia started the game for the Emeralds and kept the Dust Devils in check all night. He pitched five innings, holding the Dust Devils to three hits and no runs. He struck out three and walked one in the win.
“He’s been doing really good these last couple outings, and we needed it,” Emeralds Manager Jesus Feliciano said. “I’m very glad he had the outing that he had and that we could contribute on his outing too.”
Offensively, to start the bottom of the second inning, Gustavo Polanco led the Emeralds with a triple to deep right field. He scored in the next at-bat when Austin Filiere hit a sacrifice fly to center field. After Micheal Cruz struck out and Jose Gonzalez walked, then stole second, Kwang-Min Kwon grounded out to end the scoring threat.
The scoring continued into the third inning, the Emeralds executed a double steal when Bethencourt stole third and Aramis Ademan stole second. The catcher’s throw to second was off the mark and Bethencourt scored. The missed throw allowed Ademan to advance to third base. In the next at-bat, Gustavo Polanco added another run for the Ems on an RBI single to push the lead to three runs.
Tri-City starter Henry Henry gave up three runs on three hits and struck out five batters, but was pulled after four innings of work.
Reliever Thomas Cosgrove took over for the Dust Devils to start the bottom of the fifth inning. The first batter he faced hit the ball to the left field warning track. Ademan followed with a single to center field, then he stole second. Amaya drew a walk but Polanco and Filiere ended the scoring threat to get Cosgrove out of the jam.
Holden Cammack entered the game to start the sixth inning for the Emeralds for a short relief appearance.
Luis Almanzar started things off for the Dust Devils with a one-out double. Following a groundout, Tre Carter walked, then the Dust Devils executed a double steal. Cammack walked the next batter and the bases were loaded. That brought up Bryant Aragon, who dropped in a two-RBI single to left field to cut the deficit to one and end the night for Cammack.
The Emeralds added to their lead in the seventh, which started with a single. Then Bethencourt singled on a bunt towards the third baseman. The throw to first was off the mark, allowing Filotei to score and Bethencourt to advance all the way to third base on the error. A wild pitch by Cosgrove, gave the Emeralds their three-run cushion back.
“Baseball is very streaky and contagious,” Feliciano said. “I know after this win we’re going to have a good winning streak now and we’re going to be fine.”
Despite the losing streak, the Emeralds entered the game tied with the Boise Hawks and one game back of the Northwest League South leading Hillsboro Hops. Boise lost Friday and Hillsboro scored three in the ninth to win by one and maintain their one game advantage in the standings.
Game three of the series is Saturday at 7:05 pm at PK Park.
Follow Zak Laster on Twitter: @zlast3445