Looking at the numbers, the Eugene Emeralds’ .263 batting average through the first 15 games doesn’t seem all that impressive. But look closer and that .263 team average leaves the Ems with the third-highest team batting average in the Northwest League, where no team is hitting above .300. Hitting hasn’t been a problem for the Eugene Emeralds this season, but getting timely hits? That’s been a different story.
The Ems (6-9) wrapped up their second home series of the season on Friday, with a 4-3 loss to the Everett AquaSox (10-6). The two teams split the six-game series, in what proved to be an evenly matched series that for the most part showcased close games, which for the Ems, were won and lost by their ability and inability to drive home runners in scoring position.
In the three losses, the Ems, who entered and exited the series in last place in the Northwest League West Division, stranded multiple runners in scoring position and were unable to capitalize with timely RBIs.
“Early on we had a lot of runners on base,” said center fielder Bo Davis. “We just couldn’t get them across, and you know it just built and by the end of the game, it was all on top of us.”
There was no better example than the Ems’ 0-3 loss in game five of the series on Thursday.
AquaSox starter Luke Burnett pitched a no-hitter in 5.2 innings of work. He struck out seven and allowed no runs, but battled with control early and often, walking five and hitting three batters.
In the first inning Burnett walked Ems’ second baseman Joey Railey to begin the inning. He then hit Davis with a wild pitch, and after an Ems sacrifice fly ball, Burnett walked third baseman Vincent Belnome to load the bases with just one out. The heart of the Ems’ lineup couldn’t take advantage of Burnett’s mistakes, however, and he retired the next two batters, striking out first baseman Kurt Wideman and retiring left fielder Griffin Benedict on a ground ball, stranding three runners on base.
“It’s a bummer when your guy goes out and gives you a great effort like that and you can’t get any runs across for him,” Davis said. “I think we put a little too much pressure on ourselves.”
It was much of the same in the second inning. Burnett walked Kyle Loretelli and catcher Emmanuel Quiles to lead off the inning. Loretelli and Quiles both advanced to third and second base after Burnett got Christopher Tremblay to ground out. With two runners in scoring position, Burnett got Railey to ground out and struck out Davis to end the inning.
In the first two innings, the Ems left five runners in scoring position and six on base.
“We had them on the ropes, that guy was struggling like the devil,” manager Greg Riddoch said. “First inning, bases loaded (with a) base knock in the gap, and three runs he probably would have been done.”
The lackluster performance at the plate put a damper on a terrific performance from Ems’ right-hander Matt Jackson, who got the first professional start of his career. Jackson pitched a perfect game, facing 15 batters and striking out six in five innings before being taken out after reaching his pitch limit. But Jackson didn’t get any run support.
“Hitters will bail us out one day, and we’ll bail them out one day,” Jackson said following his performance Thursday. “(It) was just an off night.”
Wednesday night was not an off night.
After going 2-1 through the first three games of the series, the Emeralds came roaring back with a historic offensive performance in game four Wednesday evening.
The Ems exploded for 15 runs on 13 hits, as they beat the AquaSox 15-5. Davis had a career night as he went 4-for-4 with two singles, a double, a triple and two RBIs. The Ems had two big innings as they scored six runs in the sixth inning and five runs in the seventh inning.
Following Saturday night’s 8-0 win against the Boise Hawks (3-12), the Ems’ have seven players batting over .300, led by Davis, who is batting .356, and leading the Northwest League with eight stolen bases.
Belnome is batting .319, with 15 hits and 15 RBIs, the second most RBIs in the league. He has also hit three home runs this season.
After the five-game series with the Hawks, the Ems return home July 9th for a five-game series against the Spokane Indians (5-10).
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