The Eugene Emeralds (23-10) clinched the Northwest League South Division first half title with their 4-0 victory over the Hillsboro Hops (16-17) Wednesday night at PK Park.
With the win, the Emeralds reached the Northwest League playoffs for the first time since 2011.
The Emeralds opened the scoring early in the game.
To lead off the second inning, Wladimir Galindo reached first on an infield single. His slow rolling ball along the third base line gave him enough time to slide into first and beat the force out. One wild pitch later, Galindo was on second. Marcus Mastrobouni singled to left field and Galindo was held up at third. With two runners on, Vimael Machin popped a fly ball towards center field. When Hops center fielder Marcus Wilson caught the ball, Galindo tagged from third and beat the throw home.
The Emerald added one more in the third inning on a Robert Garcia home run to right field. It was his second home run of the season.
Hillsboro starting pitcher Wei Chieh Huang lasted one more inning, but was pulled for right handed pitcher Kevin Ginkel. Huang allowed two runs on four hits with two strikeouts and no walks.
In the fifth inning, Emerald’s Trent Giambrone reached first on an infield single. Connor Myers sent a shot in to right center field that split the two outfielders and reached the wall. The hit drove Giambrone home and Myers hustled to third for a triple.
With Myers on third, a DJ Wilson sacrifice fly to right scored Meyers. That ended the scoring for the Emeralds in the fifth and gave them a 4-0 lead.
While the offense was putting runs on the board, Emerald’s starting pitcher Jose Paulino shut out the Hops.
The lefty allowed zero runs with two hits in seven innings pitched. He struck out seven and walked one batter while earning his fourth win. He kept his undefeated season intact and lowered his earned run average to 0.51 on the season.
Following Paulino’s strong performance, relief pitcher Wyatt Short kept the Hops scoreless in the eighth inning. After two easy outs, Short proceeded to walk the next two batters, but he got out of the inning when Hillsboro’s Luis Silviero grounded out to shortstop.
In the top of the ninth, Jared Cheek entered the game for the Emeralds. After lead off hitter Ramon Hernandez reached first off of an error from Emeralds center fielder Wilson, Hillsboro’s Justin Chigbogu grounded into a 3-6-1 double play. With one out left, on the first pitch, Hillsboro’s Luke Lowery flew out to Wilson, who redeemed himself by making the out and ending the game.
After the game, the Emeralds showered themselves in champagne in the locker room while Queen’s “We are the Champions” blasted throughout the stadium.
The Emeralds begin a five day road trip against the Vancouver Canadiens Thursday at 7:05 pm.
Follow Jack Butler on Twitter @Butler917