With a 6-0 loss to the Tri-City Dust Devils on Saturday, it looks as if the Eugene Emeralds will have to wait until the second half of the season to snag a playoff berth.
The Everett AquaSox lead the Northwest League’s West Division by seven games over
Eugene, and because of the league’s structure, have essentially clinched their spot in the playoffs.
The Northwest League season is split into two separate halves, with the winner of each half in each division getting into the playoffs. If the same team wins both halves, then the spot goes to the second-place team in the second half. This is designed to eliminate the impact roster turnover can have on a season. There are nine games left in the first half of the season, so the Ems’ loss on Saturday practically ensured a first-half win for the AquaSox.
A crowd of 3,420 was on hand Saturday for Mike Schmidt Jersey Giveaway Night. The Dust Devils, affiliated with the Colorado Rockies, got to Emeralds starter Pedro Martinez early with three runs in the top of the first, and it was all they needed. The Dust Devils added two more in the second, and that was it for Martinez. Martinez went 2 1/3 innings, giving up five runs on three hits and four walks.
The Dust Devils and the Emeralds had the same amount of hits, with nine, but Eugene could never get the key hit it needed, going 1 for 13 with runners in scoring position.
“It was just one of those nights,” shortstop Chris Bisson said.
Mauricio Tabachnik came on to relieve Martinez and pitched well, giving up no runs and three hits in 3 2/3 innings of work. Xavier Esquivel pitched two innings, giving up one run on two hits, while Robert Sabo worked the ninth, giving up one hit.
Tri-City’s Chad Bettis, a second-round pick out of Texas Tech, had a solid start, scattering
five hits over five innings of shutout ball. Bettis got in trouble several times, but the Emeralds just couldn’t quite get that key hit they needed.
The Emeralds had a scoring opportunity in the fifth with a leadoff double from first baseman Connor Powers, who moved to third on a groundout but was stranded.
“We just didn’t get the key hit we needed,” third baseman Jedd Gyorko said. “Give their pitcher credit, he got the outs he needed.”
Singles by Gyorko and outfielder Rymer Liriano with no outs to start the sixth had the
Emeralds threatening. But a double-play groundout from outfielder Tyler Stubblefield and a groundout from catcher Rocky Gale ended the inning, and Eugene would get no closer to scoring.
The Everett AquaSox seem to have sewn up that spot already with a six-game lead with only nine games remaining in the first half of the season, but the Emeralds say they are not giving up.
They have a three-game series with the AquaSox in Everett that started yesterday. Results were not available at press time.
The Ems were coming off a five-game winning streak before their 3-0 loss to Tri-City on Friday and the 6-0 loss Saturday.
“We just got to keep building. It’s a process,” Bisson said.
The Ems roster is always shifting because of the nature of the league. Some guys are called up from Eugene, and some are sent down to Eugene. This makes it hard for the team to develop chemistry and camaraderie, and manager Greg Riddoch is still figuring out the lineup.
“We’ve got a lot of good players on this baseball team,” Bisson said. “We’re not expecting any moves, but you never know.”
Gyorko was a second-round pick for the Padres and is having a nice individual season, leading the Northwest League in home runs, slugging percentage and total bases. He could be a candidate to be called up, but is not anticipating it at this point.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen. I do know I’m here now,” Gyorko said.
Eugene plays in Class-A short season, which means the season starts in June to allow players drafted in the MLB draft to play for their respective organizations. The Emeralds are affiliated with the San Diego Padres.
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