The Eugene Emeralds’ recent spate of games conjures up memories of that old McDonald’s commercial with the little kid in the swing, who on the upswing catches glimpses of the golden arches.
Up. Laugh.
Down. Cry.
Up.
Well, you get the point. The Emeralds followed a seven-game winning streak with an eight-game losing streak last week on the road at Everett, Wash., and Boise, Idaho. The Ems broke that losing streak with a 5-4 victory Monday night over the Hawks of Boise.
The two streaks took the Ems from worst to first, then back to worst again in the Northwest League’s West division. Eugene is now 14-19 on the season and at least 5 1/2 games behind the league lead.
Before Monday’s game, Eugene manager Jeff Gardner was disappointed in his team’s play, but he said he still holds hope for the rest of the season.
“Coming off that seven-game win streak, this road trip hasn’t gone the way we wanted,” Gardner told KPNW radio. “But it’s a long season.”
The Ems’ recent losing streak came against two of the Northwest League’s top teams. Boise leads the East division by 8 1/2 games, and the Emeralds handed the Hawks only their ninth loss of the season Monday night. The Ems lost four games at Boise by a total of 16 runs, including a 10-2 blowout Sunday afternoon. Eugene’s Geoff Jones gave up three home runs in the third inning of that game.
Prior to the Boise series, Eugene was swept in a three-game series at Everett. The AquaSox are currently in second place in the West division with a record of 16-16 before Monday. After last Monday’s game was rained out, the Ems dropped both games of a doubleheader by a total of seven runs Tuesday, then another game Wednesday.
Emeralds manager Jeff Gardner consults with catcher Nick Trzesniak (left) and pitcher Jeremy Webster (right). The Ems are 14-19.
Despite all the losses, Gardner said his team has shown resiliency.
“Their effort has been good,” Gardner said. “If they ever stop trying, then we’ve got something to worry about.”
The Ems have experienced losses in another area as well: in the injury category, especially in the bullpen, where several relievers have been hurt.
“I’ve never been a big believer in using the injury excuse,” Gardner said. “If you have a good club, you should be able to overcome those injuries.”
The Ems were able to overcome their bullpen deficiencies with lots of offense Monday night. Outfielder Doc Brooks hit a two-run home run — his fourth of the year and second in two games — to break a 1-1 tie in the fourth inning.
Boise’s Syketo Anderson hit an inside-the-park home run to bring the Hawks within two runs in the bottom of the eighth, but Emerald outfielder Marcus Nettles scored on Jason Bartlett’s sacrifice fly in the top of the ninth to give the Ems a 5-3 cushion. Eugene would need it, as Boise’s Corey Slavik hit a solo shot in the bottom of the ninth, but the Ems held off the Hawks for the win.
The Emeralds now return home for their longest home stretch of the year, an eight-game stand against the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes and the Tri-City Dust Devils. The Ems’ three-game series with Salem-Keizer, the top team in the West division, begins tonight. Eugene will lock horns with the Devils in a five-game series starting Friday.