After two straight losses to the Everett Aquasox (18-7, 36-27), the Eugene Emeralds (17-1, 45-17) earned a 1-0 victory after a DJ Wilson walk-off single Monday night at P.K. Park
The Emerald’s were inches from scoring in the first inning. After a Christopher Pieters single to center field, Wladimir Galindo hit a ball to right field that looked destined to be a home rune.
However, Aquasox right fielder Eric Filia ran towards the wall, reached over the wall and made the snow-cone catch.
The Aquasox threatened to score in the second. The bases were loaded with no outs when ex-Duck Austin Grebeck lined out softly to Emerald’s second baseman Yeiler Peguero. Then, Jose Leal grounded into a 4-6-3 double play and the Emerald’s escaped from the inning with no runs allowed.
Everett almost scored again in the fourth inning. With two outs, Nick Thurman lined a ball towards the left field line towards Emerald’s left fielder Pieters. He dove for the ball, it passed his outstretched arm and rolled to the wall as Thurman hustled to third base.
On next at-bat, Grebeck ended the inning by flying out to right field.
Both starting pitchers were pulled from the game without allowing any runs.
For the Emerald’s, starting pitcher Tyson Miller (1-1, 3.29 ERA) ended with five hits, two walks and three strikeouts on 4.1 innings pitched.
For the Aquasox, Ljay Newson (6-2, 3.29 ERA) left the game with two hits, two walks and three strikeouts on four innings pitched.
Eugene’s Michael Knighton (1.77 ERA) came in for Miller. Knighton pitched a scoreless 2.2 innings with two hits and one strikeout.
The Emerald’s anemic offense did not come alive until the bottom of the ninth, but that is all that mattered.
With one out, Jose Paniagua singled on a line drive to right field. On the next at-bat, Jose Gonzalez lined a ball to right field. While Filia was fielding the ball, Paniagua hustled to third and beat the throw, and Gonzalez was able to sneak on to second base.
Wilson stepped up to bat, and on the second pitch he singled to right field to give the Emerald’s the 1-0 win.
Eugene’s Andin Diaz (4.80 ERA), who came in relief of Knighton, earned the win after pitching two innings allowing one hit and two strikeouts.
Everett’s Michael Koval (2.37 ERA) took the loss.
Grebeck finished 1-4 on the day.
The Emerald’s continue their series against the Aquasox tomorrow at 7:05 pm at P.K. Park.
Follow Jack Butler on Twitter @Butler917