It was a night of gifts Thursday night at PK Park.
From Eugene Emeralds second baseman Casey McElroy came two home runs on the birthday of his father, Gerry, who was in attendance. From the Spokane Indians, it was seven errors that led to four unearned runs in their 9-4 loss to the Emeralds.
“It was my dad’s birthday and he was in the stands, so I’m sure he’s pretty happy,” McElroy said.
First-year Emeralds manager Pat Murphy said it was “a good feeling” to be on the positive side of a seven-error performance after some notable defensive struggles earlier in the season.
“I’m proud of our club,” Murphy said. “We came out with a good tempo and we swang the bat well.”
McElroy’s big night started in the first inning when he hit a two-run home run to right-center field, driving in shortstop Jace Peterson, who led off with a double, his third extra-base hit in as many days.
“First pitch I saw tonight was a good fastball and I just remembered to be aggressive and put a good swing on it,” McElroy said.
Emeralds starter Juan Herrera gave up his only run during the second inning, with Indians center fielder Zachary Cone scoring on a sacrifice fly to center field from second baseman Rougned Odor. However, Herrera was wild throughout his two-inning performance, walking the bases loaded in the first inning with 12 straight balls and throwing only three first-pitch strikes to 12 batters before being taken from the game in favor of Warren Slack.
Slack gave up a run in the top of the third inning when Spokane catcher Brett Nicholas, who reached on a leadoff walk, scored on a fielder’s choice by shortstop Hanser Alberto.
The Emeralds rallied with four runs in the bottom of the third inning to break the tied game open. McElroy’s second home run, a one-out solo shot to right-center field, opened the scoring for Eugene. This time, McElroy waited until the second pitch of the at-bat before hitting the ball over the right-center field fence.
“I guess even a blind squirrel finds a nut here and there,” McElroy said. “It definitely felt good.”
After third baseman Duanel Jones followed with a double and first baseman Travis Whitmore reached on an error by Spokane pitcher Santo Perez, Jones scored on a balk by Perez. After Emeralds catcher Matt Colantonio walked to put runners on first base and second base, designated hitter Jose Dore hit a two-run double down the first base line to finish the scoring.
Spokane scored two more runs off Slack in the top of the fourth inning, with a leadoff walk to Indians left fielder Nickolaus Vickerson and a single by Odor to left field coming back to haunt Slack when Indians designated hitter Trever Adams hitting a double to right field to score both men on base. The next batter, Nicholas, hit a line drive off the ankle of Slack, who limped off the field and was replaced by reliever Kyle Brule, who had coincidentally been hit with a line drive in the face Aug. 15.
The Emeralds tacked on two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, with left fielder Justin Miller extending his hitting streak to 18 games with a leadoff double to right field, before being driven in on a double to right field from Colantonio after he had fouled off five consecutive pitches. Colantonio scored on a popup by center fielder Alberth Martinez that fell just out of the reach of the drawn-in middle infielders of Spokane.
From the top of the fifth inning onward, Eugene’s bullpen held Spokane in check, giving up one hit, a one-out double by Alberto in the eighth inning, racking up five strikeouts and giving up two walks — both by Emeralds closer Chris Wilkes to lead off the ninth inning.
Eugene added its final run in the seventh inning when Colantonio led off with a double that hit first base, then took third on a bobble by Spokane right fielder Guillermo Pimentel, and then took home when Pimentel’s throw to third base sailed into the fence along the Indians’ dugout.
The Emeralds and Indians play game three of their five-game series Friday at 7 p.m. at PK Park.
Casey McElroy’s two home runs guide Eugene Emeralds past Spokane Indians
Kenny Ocker
August 24, 2011
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