After a record-breaking 15 game win streak, the Eugene Emeralds fell to the Everett Aquasox 12-1 Saturday night at P.K. Park.
The Aquasox wasted no time putting one run on the board. To leadoff the game, Bryson Brigman walked, and proceeded to steal second. After two strikeouts, Nick Zammarelli singled to center and Brigman came in to score.
In the second inning, after a series of steals, walks and passed balls, the Aquasox had the bases loaded with one out. Brigman drove in one run with a sacrifice fly to center that scored ex-Duck Austin Grebeck from third.
Eugene’s starting pitcher Bryan Hudson limited the damage by only allowing one run that inning after Donnie Walton grounded out.
The Aquasox added two more runs in the third; both came with two outs. After a Kristian Britio walk, Dimas Ojeda doubles to center field and Britio scored from first. Then Grebek singled to left field while Ojeda hustled to home to give the Aquasox a 4-0 lead.
It got messy again for the Emeralds in the fourth.
With two outs, Brigman singled after the ball struck and bounced off of Hudson. Donnie Walton singled to left and Brigman hustled his way home. Hudson then threw a wild pitch that advanced Walton to second and he finished the at-bat by walking Britio.
Hudson was then pulled from the game and replaced by right handed pitcher M.T. Minacci.
Hudson’s final stat-line read 3.2 innings pitched, seven earned runs on six hits with five strikeouts and five walks.
Minacci’s luck was not better. With two runners on second and first, Minacci allowed a home run to Jhombeyker Morales, the first batter he faced.
The inning would end with a ground out, and the Aquasox led 8-0.
While the Aquasox were scoring runs, the Emeralds were being held hitless. Everette pitcher Matthew Festa kept a zero in the hit column for 4.2 innings until Trent Giambrone reached base with a double.
The Aquasox added four more runs in the Sixth. With the bases loaded and nobody out, Morales lined a ground ball to Emerald first baseman Giambrone, who opted to attempt the out at home instead of first. The throw was off target, the catcher was off the plate and the run counted.
With the bases still loaded, Britio lined a ball that skidded across the third base line and passed the diving arm of Emerald third baseman Wladimir Galindo. The runners from third and second scored while the first base runner was held at third. With runners at first and second, Ojeda grounded to second and Morales scored from third.
Two more ground-outs ended the inning, but the damage was done. The Aquasox led 12-0.
Minacci was pulled after the inning. He allowed three earned runs on five hits in 2.1 innings pitched.
Marc Huberman finished the game for the Emeralds. He allowed two hits, no runs and three strikeouts in three innings pitched.
Festa continued to hold the Emeralds scoreless. He was taken out after six innings after allowing no runs on two hits, seven strikeouts and no walks. He earned the win.
The Emeralds avoided the shutout by scoring one run in the bottom of the ninth. Galindo singled, Kevonte Mitchell walked, Giambrone singled, and with the bases loaded, Marcus Mastrobuoni hit a sacrifice fly to left field.
The ex-Duck Grebeck ended the day with four at-bats, one hit, one walk, one run and one RBI.
The Emeralds will try to start another streak when they play the Aquasox again Sunday, at 5 p.m. at P.K. Park.
Follow Jack Butler on Twitter @Butler917