The Eugene Emeralds broke the Northwest League’s all-time record win streak Tuesday night — in grand fashion, no less.
The Emeralds beat the Vancouver Canadians 9-3 in front of a PK Park-record 4,601 people — setting an attendance record for a second straight night — on the strength of right fielder Lee Orr’s fourth-inning grand slam and every batter recording a hit.
“It’s always fun to get the big hit,” Orr said. “That puts us out and gets us a big lead, makes us feel more relaxed.”
Orr led the team offensively, going 1 for 3 with a home run and four RBI, and he also reached with a walk and a hit-by-pitch. Eugene (17-2) shortstop Jace Peterson — Orr’s roommate and college teammate — went 3 for 5 with two RBI and two runs.
“He’s one of the strongest kids I know with the bat, and when you leave one over the plate, he’s going to make you pay for it,” Peterson said.
Eugene’s strong offensive performance masked an up-and-down start for pitcher Colin Rea, who went five innings, surrendering one run on seven hits, a walk and a hit batter. Vancouver (11-8) had 11 baserunners against Rea, including one in each inning, but only scored a lone run in the first inning.
“Colin Rea bobbed and weaved, bobbed and weaved, bobbing and weaving through five, had runners on base every inning, leadoff guy was on four out of five innings,” first-year Emeralds manager Pat Murphy said. “It’s not ideal, but he found a way to get it done.”
Vancouver started the scoring in the top of the first inning, with designated hitter Jon Berti scoring on shortstop Shane Opitz’s single to center field.
From then on, the game belonged to the Emeralds.
Eugene scored its first run in the bottom of the first inning. After hitting a two-out double down the left-field line, second baseman Cory Spangenberg was forced home by three consecutive walks from Canadians starting pitcher Blake McFarland. Spangenberg’s streak of reaching base in every game remains intact, and he is still the Northwest League leader in on-base percentage and runs scored. Before the game, Spangenberg was named NWL Player of the Week for the second consecutive week.
“Things are going our way right now and we’ve got some good players, kids that are first-year players, but they’re hungry,” Murphy said.
The Emeralds added two runs in the bottom of the second on RBI doubles from Peterson and Spangenberg, who went 2 for 5 with two doubles, an RBI and a run.
“I got a pitch out over the plate and I just tried to drive the ball,” Peterson said. “I got a good pitch and I hit it, and fortunately it was a double.”
Orr’s fourth-inning grand slam to right-center field scored catcher Matt Colantonio, Peterson and left fielder Mykal Stokes. The home run was the second in as many days for the former McNeese State outfielder and San Diego Padres 2011 13th-round draft pick. After Orr’s round-tripper, the Canadians yanked McFarland, who gave up seven runs in three-and-one-third innings.
“It felt good. Put a good swing on it, and it’s probably the farthest ball I’ve ever hit opposite-field.” Orr said.
Eugene designated hitter Jose Dore led off the fifth inning with a solo home run into the Emeralds’ bullpen. The Emeralds stretched their lead to 9-1 later in the inning when Peterson hit a single to right field to score first baseman Zach Kometani.
Well after the game was in hand for the Emeralds, the Canadians scored a run in the sixth inning off Eugene reliever Simon Berroa. Vancouver first baseman Randy Schwartz singled home right fielder Nick Baligod. The only Canadians with multiple hits were Schwartz, who went 3 for 4 with an RBI, and Opitz, who went 2 for 5 with an RBI and two swinging strikeouts.
The Canadians added another late run in the ninth inning on a two-out single to right field by third baseman Balbino Fuenmayor off Emeralds reliever Will Scott. Scott threw three innings in relief, giving up one run on three hits with five strikeouts and earning his second save.
The victory gives Eugene a six-game lead over Vancouver for first place in the NWL’s Western Division standings nearly halfway through the first half of the season. The winners of each division in the first half and second half of the season meet in the playoffs, with the winners of those series meeting to contest the league championship.
“It’s a great deal,” Orr said. “Just coming here and winning makes everything a lot more fun.”
The Emeralds and Canadians play the final game of their three-game series — and their sixth consecutive head-to-head game — Wednesday at 7 p.m. at PK Park.