Kelli's Big Day Headlines Walk-Off Win For Los Monarcas
Los Monarcas de Eugene (6-4) bounced back from a Saturday night streak-snapping defeat to earn a 6-4, walk-off win over the Tri-City Dust Devils (4-6) on Sunday evening at PK Park.
Los Monarcas de Eugene (6-4) bounced back from a Saturday night streak-snapping defeat to earn a 6-4, walk-off win over the Tri-City Dust Devils (4-6) on Sunday evening at PK Park.
As with all Sunday home games throughout the 2019, the Ems transformed into Los Monarcas as part of MiLB's Copa de la Diversion. In addition, the team sported specially-designed Monarcas jerseys to honor Our Children's Trust, a local nonprofit that seeks to elevate the voice of youth to secure the legal right to a stable climate and healthy atmosphere for the benefit of all present and future generations. The one-of-a-kind, game-worn jerseys were sold via silent auction during the game with proceeds benefitting Our Children's Trust.
Prior to the game, Kelsey Juliana, a Eugene native and one of the lead plaintiffs of the nationally-covered case Juliana v. United States, addressed the PK Park faithful on behalf of Our Children's Trust.
Panamanian left-hander
After retiring the inning's first two batters in order, back-to-back walks from Vargas put Dust Devil runners on first and second, and
Los Monarcas responded quickly to level the score in the bottom half of the inning. With Garcia and Cuevas on first and second base, respectively, following a pair of walks to start the inning,
With the bases loaded and
However, Cruz would just as quickly get himself out of the jam as he struck out the next three Monarcas batters to limit the damage to just one run.
Two innings later, the Dust Devils put themselves back in front. A leadoff walk and an infield single to start the fifth put runners on first and second with nobody out, and
Los Monarcas once again quickly responded in the bottom half of the frame, this time thanks to Fernando Kelli. With
Both pitching staffs hunkered down over the next three innings with neither side able to advance a runner past second base, but Los Monarcas finally found the breakthrough they needed in the bottom of the ninth.
Fernando Kelli got the Monarcas momentum rolling with a one-out, infield single that saw him slide into the first base bag, barely beating the throw from Dust Devils shortstop
Knight, who provided a go-ahead home run just two nights prior, found himself as a mere spectator to the show this time. A wild pitch from TC reliever Deacon Medders bounced past catcher
The Emeralds and Dust Devils wrap up their four-game series at 7:05pm on Monday night PK Park on what is First Responder Appreciation Night. 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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