The Eugene Emeralds were eager to return home after losing four of five on the road against Tri-City. In four consecutive losses, the Emeralds could manage no more than four runs, struggling to sustain offense.
Back in familiar surroundings, they returned to form offensively in an 8-4 win over the Hillsboro Hops.
Most importantly for the Emeralds (15-12), it stopped a four-game losing streak that threatened to become the longest of the season with another defeat.
“When we left, we were riding a pretty good wave. We won the first game in Tri-Cities, then things kind of went south,” manager Gary Van Tol said. “To come back here at home where we have been playing well, with the energy of the crowd, it was a huge game for us.”
Ian Happ scored the Emeralds’ first run in the bottom of the fourth inning from Matt Rose’s sacrifice fly. Eloy Jimenez’s aggressive base-running put him in scoring position from third on the same play, but was stranded when Ian Rice grounded out to end the inning.
The Hops (15-12) took control in the top of the fifth. With one out and Jose Queliz on second, Emeralds starting pitcher Oscar De La Cruz appeared to beat Ferenery Ozuna to first base for the Hops’ second out, but Ozuna was called safe by umpire Andrew Stukel. Van Tol walked out of the dugout to argue with Stukel, but the call stood.
The Hops’ next batter, Zach Nehrir, hit a two-RBI triple to give the Hops a 2-1 lead. De La Cruz was then pulled in favor of Francisco Carillo. Still getting warmed up, Carillo allowed a double to Stephen Dezzi and Nehrir extended the lead 3-1. But Carillo settled down and retired the next two batters to stop the bleeding.
Carillo earned his first win of the season in 3.2 innings on the mound.
The Emeralds seized momentum in the bottom of the fifth. Blake Headley doubled to start. Ho-young Son eventually reached second, and Headley advanced to third. Donnie Dewees drove in Headley and Frandy De La Rosa drove in Son to tie the game 3-3.
The Hops replaced their starter, Tyler Bolton, on the mound after De La Rosa’s RBI, but it didn’t matter.
Joey Donino gave up three more earned runs, and the Emeralds batted all the way through the order. Headley’s RBI single to extend the lead 8-3 was his second hit of the inning.
In all, the Emeralds had eight hits — seven consecutive — in the inning.
“It’s contagious,” Van Tol said. “All it takes is a couple guys to get it going. Everybody followed suit, did an excellent job with runners in scoring position and had a good approach at the plate. That was the difference.”
Happ led the Emeralds with three hits, an RBI and a run scored.
“I’m feeling good,” Happ said. “The last week has been great, I’m starting to get really comfortable in the box, seeing the ball well and getting some results.”
The win moved the Emeralds into a tie with the Hops for second in the south division, trailing the first-place Salem-Keizer Volcanoes by only one game. This series could be important in deciding playoff seeding, but that’s not the message Van Tol is delivering to his team.
“We don’t bring it up a lot,” Van Tol said. “We just try and make sure we’re in control of our destiny, our journey. As long as we are, we have that opportunity.”
The Emeralds face the Hops in the second game of their three-game home series Thursday night at 7:05 p.m.
Follow Will Denner on Twitter @Will_Denner
Eugene Emeralds end losing skid, defeat Hillsboro Hops 8-4
Will Denner
July 15, 2015
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