Emeralds Minor League Daily: Game One Goes To Eugene!

This is starting to get that storybook feel to it.

The Eugene Emeralds, who finished the regular season with an overall record of 31-45 (.408 win percentage) had not won three games in a row all season. So naturally, after sneaking into the playoffs due to a slightly stronger second half, they rattle off three straight wins. The team that finished with the worst overall record in the league by four games is now just two games away from their second Northwest League title in three years.

Riley Thompson pitched well in his playoff debut, allowing just two runs on solo homers, but once again it was the bullpen that came up huge. This time the relievers provided 4.2 innings of one hit baseball to give the Emeralds time to come back from a 2-0 deficit.

On the offense, Levi Jordan had the big blow. Batting cleanup, the Emeralds’ second baseman hit a solo homer in the eighth inning to give Eugene their first lead of the game.

Short Season A: Eugene Emeralds
Eugene 3, Spokane 2
That score should look familiar. Eugene has won every playoff game so far with that exact score.

  • Riley Thompson: 4.1 IP, 2 R, 5 H, 6 K
  • Derek Casey: 1.2 IP, 2 K
  • Cam Sanders: 1 IP, 1 BB, 1 K
  • Ivan Medina: 2 IP, 1 H, 2 K
  • Nelson Velazquez: 2 for 4
  • Levi Jordan: 1 for 4, HR
  • Fernando Kelli: 1 for 4, 2B
  • Luis Vazquez: 2 for 4
  • Other Notes

  • There was an unusual play in the ninth. Third baseman Andy Weber chased a foul ball near the dugout and made the catch leaning over the wall. As he pushed himself back to upright, the ball slipped from his glove. The call on field, the correct call I think after watching the replays, was that the catch was made and the ball came lose while transferring to his glove. The Spokane manager argued, as you’d expect, and was ejected, as you’d expect.
  • There was runner on first when this took place, and since the ball fell out of the glove and out of play, he was awarded two bases. That meant the foul out that was argued turned into, effectively, a sac fly that put a runner on third with two outs. Honestly, Spokane probably wasn’t unhappy with that outcome. The next batter hit a routine grounder to short, though, and the runner was left stranded.
  • Lefty Jack Patterson takes the mound for Eugene tonight. This will be his second Northwest League appearance.
  • written by

    Luke Blaize is the Minor League Editor at Bleacher Nation, and you can find him on Twitter at @ltblaize.

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