Ems Rout Everett As Allen Nets First Pro Win
The Eugene Emeralds (10-13) wrapped up the three-game series against the Everett AquaSox (11-12) in style, earning a 13-7 win on Saturday night at PK Park.
The Eugene Emeralds (10-13) wrapped up the three-game series against the Everett AquaSox (11-12) in style, earning a 13-7 win on Saturday night at PK Park.
Despite the lopsided outcome in favor of the Emeralds, the start of the game seemed as if it would be the same story as the prior two nights.
Everett struck first in the top of the first, the third consecutive game that the AquaSox plated a run in the game's opening frame. With Austin Shenton on third and Trent Tingelstad on first after hitting a double and single, respectively,
In the second, Everett doubled their advantage with one swing of the bat.
Eugene responded in the bottom half of the frame thanks to a
Later in the same inning, after stealing second base and third base in back-to-back Emeralds at-bats, Kelli was pulled from the game due to an undisclosed injury after sliding into third base. Jacob Olson replaced Kelli in the lineup and moved to right field while
The Emeralds' deficit ballooned back up to two in the top of the third inning. After Allen retired the first two AquaSox batters in quick succession, an infield single and a fielding error by Ems shortstop
Again, the Ems responded in the bottom half of the frame, and they did it with a two-out rally of their own. Zac Taylor continued the strong start to his Emeralds career by doubling down the left field line, and Clemson alum Grayson Byrd delivered in the following at bat by driving home Taylor with an RBI single, cutting the AquaSox lead back to just one.
In the fourth inning, the Emeralds took their first lead of the game and would not look back. Eugene exploded for five runs in the bottom of the fourth, starting with an Edmond Americaan three-run blast to right field, a no-doubter that easily cleared the PK Park fence to put the Emeralds in front, 5-3. An ensuing AquaSox pitching change saw Brock Minich take the mound for Everett, and he was quickly greeted by Grayson Byrd who doubled off the center field wall to score
The seventh inning saw the AquaSox opt to lean on position players to do the pitching duties despite trailing by only four runs, and the Emeralds took full advantage. Darius Hill netted his first RBI as an Emerald in the seventh inning thanks to a sacrifice fly to center field, and the Emeralds followed an inning later by plating five runs in total. A bases loaded walk to Grayson Byrd, a Jacob Olson 2-RBI single, another Darius Hill sac fly, and an Edmond Americaan RBI single stretched Eugene's lead all the way up to 13-3 heading into the ninth.
The offensive explosion came with some emotional fireworks from the AquaSox, too. With outfielder
The AquaSox made things interesting as best they could in the ninth, plating four runs in total, but the deficit proved far too much to come back from as the Emeralds wrapped up the series with a 13-7 win in front of 2,659 fans at PK Park.
Starting pitcher Chris Allen (1-0) picked up his first-ever professional win on the evening, tossing 5.0 innings with 3 strikeouts while allowing 7 hits, 3 runs (2 earned) and no walks. In addition to belting his first career home run, Edmond Americaan finished the night 3-for-5 with 4 RBI and 2 runs scored. Newcomer Grayson Byrd, playing in only his second game as an Emerald, went 2-for-3 at the plate with 4 RBI, 2 walks and a run scored. Not to be outdone, fellow recent addition Zac Taylor went 3-for-3 with 2 walks and 5 runs scored.
The Emeralds now look ahead to tomorrow where they'll open up a two-game series against the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes. The Ems and Volcanoes face off at 5:05pm PST on Sunday evening at PK Park.
Sunday marks STEAM Night at PK Park as the Emeralds celebrate Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics with numerous interactive displays and activities hosted throughout the ballpark by local education-based organizations.
Sunday also brings the season's second Monarcas Sunday, presented by Carl's Jr., Kendall Toyota, Mountain Dew and Sol Cerveza. Every Monarcas Sunday sees the Emeralds transform into Los Monarcas de Eugene as part of MiLB's Copa de la Diversion. There will be Latin food, music and entertainment at the ballpark plus $1 hot dogs and kids will get a chance to run the bases after the game. This Monarcas Sunday also features an El Chapulin Colorado t-shirt giveaway, presented by Carl's Jr, Kendall Toyota, Mountain Dew, Sol Cerveza, and La Que Buena. The first 1,000 fans that enter through the home plate gates of PK Park on Sunday, July 7 will receive their own El Chapulin Colorado t-shirt.
You can find the full promotional schedule for the 2019 Eugene Emeralds season by visiting www.EmeraldsBaseball.com.
Tickets to Emeralds home games are on sale now at www.EmeraldsBaseball.com or by calling (541) 342-5367.
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