Emeralds Win 5-4 Behind Casey Schmitt's Four-RBI Game

Hillsboro, OR (July 7, 2022) – Marcos Tineo had his season high in strikeouts with eight, but the Hops’ bullpen couldn’t hold on, as Casey Schmitt drove in four RBI late in the game for Eugene. Schmitt, hit his league-tying 15th home run with two-outs in the seventh to tie the game at four. Schmitt came through clutch again in the ninth, with a go-ahead RBI single, his second two-out RBI of the game. Caleb Roberts had two extra-base hits, including his third homer of 2022, in the 5-4 loss to the Emeralds.

Vaun Brown didn’t wait long to get Eugene on the board, homering off Tineo to lead off the game. Brown, hit 14 home runs in Low-A with San Jose and has now hit three since being called up to Eugene.

Eugene starter, Mason Black, was through the minimum entering the fourth inning. The Hops put together four consecutive hits in the fourth, with Caleb Roberts hitting an RBI double off the top of the right field fence and A.J. Vukovich following with an RBI single, giving Hillsboro a 2-1 lead. Vukovich leads the team in RBI with 34. Black was chased from the game after allowing five hits and two earned runs in the frame.

Marcos Tineo lasted five innings for Hillsboro, while striking out eight. The only run he allowed was to the first hitter of the game, Vaun Brown.

The second pitcher out of the bullpen for Eugene, Mat Olsen, had a rude welcoming to the game when Caleb Roberts hit a home run on the first pitch he threw. Roberts hit his third long ball of the season and 27th RBI. Hillsboro added one more in the inning against Olsen, after a throwing error by the catcher, Patrick Bailey, scored Vukovich.

Jackson Goddard made his first appearance since May 19th after being activated from the IL and would give up his first earned runs of the season. After retiring the first two hitters of the seventh, back-to-back singles put two runners on for Casey Schmitt. Schmitt, hit a 0-1 pitch into the Emeralds’ bullpen, tying the game at four.

The Hops loaded the bases in the home half of the seventh with just one out. Juan Sanchez, came into the game and retired Vukovich and Castillo, both striking out swinging.

Kyle Backhus had a one-two-three eighth inning and came back on for the ninth. Simon Whiteman singled and Luis Matos singled, once again bringing up Casey Schmitt with two runners on and two outs. Schmitt singled up the middle, a go-ahead RBI, but was thrown out trying to advance to second. Eugene had a 5-4 lead going to the bottom of the ninth.

Diamondbacks’ 2021 first-round pick, Jordan Lawlar, who had a scheduled day off on Friday, pinch hit in the ninth inning, but flew out to right field. Nick Avila recorded the next two outs, securing his 13th save and second of the series.

Hillsboro (36-41) and Eugene (45-31) will play game five on Saturday at 7:05, with the pre-game show at 6:50 on Rip City Radio 620 and MiLB.tv. Saturday's game will also be televised locally on KOIN.