For the second time in three days, the Eugene Emeralds pulled off a 1-0 win over the Spokane Indians. Sunday afternoon’s contest gave the Emeralds a five-game sweep over the visiting Indians at PK Park, and concluded Eugene’s regular-season home schedule.
The Northwest League-leading Emeralds have won six games in a row and 10 of their last 12 as they roll toward their already-clinched playoff berth with five games left in the regular season.
Eugene starting pitcher James Needy had his first scoreless performance of the season against Spokane, going four innings with two hits and two walks while striking out three. Needy had struggled throughout the season and was actually demoted to the San Diego Padres’ extended spring training program before being called back up before Sunday’s game.
“It’s big. Every game is big. It doesn’t matter, you know. First game of the season, mid game of the season, last game of the season — it’s always big,” Needy said. “Any game you can get a W and add to that record helps out.”
The Emeralds scored the game’s only run in the seventh inning, when shortstop Jace Peterson, who had reached first base on a fielder’s choice and stolen second base, scored on a single up the middle from second baseman Casey McElroy.
Eugene’s bullpen is currently on a 19 1/3 inning scoreless streak dating back to the fourth inning of Thursday’s game against Spokane. For the third consecutive game, the bullpen allowed just two runners. Emeralds reliever Simon Berroa threw perfect fifth and sixth innings, Daniel Cropper gave up a lone hit in the seventh inning to Indians shortstop Edwin Garcia, Matt Stites threw a perfect eighth inning and closer Chris Wilkes issued a walk to Indians first baseman Trever Adams before coaxing a double play from pinch hitter Brett Nicholas to end the game.
First-year Eugene manager Pat Murphy compared his team’s recent run of wins to its NWL-record 14-game winning streak earlier in the season, saying, “We’re not playing great, but they did some things and I’m pleased we came out on top.”
Spokane starting pitcher Nick Martinez threw five scoreless innings despite walking six Eugene hitters, giving up one hit and one strikeout. The Emeralds’ seventh-inning run came against Indians reliever Kyle Hendricks, who threw two innings, gave up three hits and a walk and struck out four.
“Their pitching staff was electric today. They did a great job. They pitched really well to us and we got some key hits,” Murphy said. “Jace Peterson did his thing, you know what I mean? Stayed relaxed, stole a base in a big situation and McElroy came up with a big hit. That’s all we could muster up.”
The Emeralds’ final regular-season series, a five-game road trip to face the Yakima Bears, starts Tuesday at 7 p.m.
“We’ve got five games left. We’re not gonna sail through like nothing,” Murphy said. “Yakima’s the hottest team other than us in the Northwest League.”
The Emeralds will return to Eugene for a playoff game against an undetermined opponent Sept. 6.