The Eugene Emeralds’ 14-game winning streak came to an end Wednesday night after the Vancouver Canadians hit two three-run home runs in top of the sixth inning and cruised to a 11-1 win at PK Park.
“We got taken behind the woodshed tonight,” first-year Emeralds manager Pat Murphy said. “You’re not surprised it’s going to happen at some point — a combination of not-great offense, not-great pitching, not-great defense.”
The Emeralds struggled in all facets of the game, getting only four hits, stranding 10 baserunners, giving up three home runs and committing two errors as Vancouver (12-8) beat Eugene (17-3) for the first time in six games this season, wrapping up their second consecutive three-game series.
“It’s just the game of baseball. You can’t win every game,” Emeralds second baseman Cory Spangenberg said. “They just happened to play a lot better than we did tonight.”
The Emeralds actually opened the scoring in the bottom of the second inning with catcher Matt Colantonio singling home center fielder Kyle Gaedele. Eugene’s offensive surge was short-lived, however. The Emeralds stranded the bases loaded to end the inning when left fielder Mykal Stokes hit a ball deep to center field that Canadians center fielder Jon Jones snared with a leaping grab.
“It could have been a triple as easy as it was an out,” Murphy said. “It was a great play by their guy.”
The Canadians responded to the Emeralds’ run by scoring three of their own in the top of the next frame. Vancouver catcher Garrett Maines hit a double off the left field wall to score left fielder Scott McQuail from first base.
Later in the inning, after a walk to Jones loaded the bases, Emeralds starting pitcher James Needy looked to be out of the inning. Needy induced a ground ball from Canadians third baseman Balbino Fuenmayor, but Emeralds third baseman Travis Whitmore booted a sure double play, allowing Maines to score.
Murphy then pulled Needy from the game and replaced him with reliever Greg Gonzalez, who gave up an RBI sacrifice fly from Canadians right fielder Nick Baligod before getting out of the inning.
Murphy said Gonzalez was “lights out” in three innings of scoreless relief, in which he allowed no hits, had one walk and struck out three before reaching his inning limit.
With the score still at 3-1, the Emeralds had an opportunity to narrow the gap in the bottom of the fifth inning, but they stranded the bases loaded again when designated hitter Jose Dore lifted a fly ball to left field, killing the rally.
The Canadians added seven runs in the sixth inning, all off reliever Paul Bingham. McQuail and Jones both hit three-run home runs into the Vancouver bullpen, and then Baligod added a single to right field to score Fuenmayor. Bingham went 1/3 of an inning, surrendering seven runs on six hits and a walk.
“Paul wasn’t at his best, obviously, but we’ve got to give him innings, got to leave him in there and he’s got to face hitters,” Murphy said. “That’s part of what this thing is all about.”
McQuail added another home run to left field in the top of the seventh inning off Emeralds reliever Simon Berroa to give the game its final score. McQuail finished the game 2 for 5 with two home runs, two walks, three runs scored and four runs batted in.
“We had to pitch some guys who aren’t at their best right now, and they gave up some runs,” Murphy said.
The only Emeralds batters to reach base more than one time were shortstop Jace Peterson, who walked twice, and Spangenberg, who had a single to right field in the third inning and two walks, preserving his streak of reaching base in every game this season.
“As long as your team don’t win, you can always do something to help your team win,” Spangenberg said. “We didn’t win tonight, so whatever I did doesn’t matter.”
Murphy said the Emeralds have an opportunity to learn as much from this loss as any win in their Northwest League-record streak.
“Sad that it’s over, but, you know what, it’s a chance to come out tomorrow and do some things,” Murphy said. “You also learn a lot about your club in times like these.”
Eugene still has a five-game lead over the Canadians for first place in the Single-A Northwest League’s West Division with nearly a quarter of the season finished. Each of the two divisions’ leaders at the end of the first half (July 26) clinch a berth in the playoffs along with the second-half winner. The Emeralds begin a five-game home series against the Yakima Bears (6-14) starting at 7 p.m. Thursday at PK Park.