A 3-Run 9th Inning Completes the Comeback for Eugene
June 1, 2024 - Northwest League (NWL)
Eugene Emeralds News Release
HILLSBORO, OR - The Emeralds completed a 9th inning comeback to beat the Hillsboro Hops by a final score of 4-3. The Emeralds trailed by 2 runs heading into the top of the 9th and they were able to score 3 runs to take their first game of the series.
It was a scoreless 1st inning for both ball clubs before the Emeralds were able to strike 1st in the top of the 2nd inning. Andrew Kachel drew a leadoff walk and Zach Morgan followed it up with a single to put runners on the corners. A couple of batters later Garrett Frechette hit a sacrifice fly out to left field to score Kachel on the play and it gave the Ems the temporary 1-0 lead.
Unfortunately for Eugene the lead wouldn't last long as the Hops answered back with a run of their own in the bottom of the 2nd inning. Jack Hurley led off the inning with a double and Manuel Pena hit a single to score Hurley on the play and tie up the game at 1-1.
The next 3 frames were scoreless for both teams as Emeralds starter Manuel Mercedes found his groove on the rubber. He was able to retire 10 straight Hillsboro Hops batters. Mercedes came out to pitch the 6th inning and after striking out the leadoff batter he gave up a double and walk and was pulled from the game. Seth Corry came in for relief of Mercedes and struck out Jack Hurley. With 2-outs there was a pair of runners at 2nd and 3rd base. Christian Cerda hit a ground ball to Andrew Kachel at 3rd base who applied the tag to the runner going from 2nd to 3rd base to end the inning. Unfortunately for Kachel, Andrew Pintar was able to score on the play and since it wasn't a force out the run counted and gave the Hops a 2-1 lead.
In the bottom of the 7th inning the Hops added another run of insurance. Jose Fernandez doubled and David Martin hit a single to score Fernandez on the play to give the Hops a 3-1 lead. Cam Cotter came in to pitch the 8th inning and pitched a clean frame to send the game to the 9th inning.
The Ems came into the 9th inning needing 2 runs to tie up the game. Eugene had lost 4 straight games coming into tonight and were slowly falling down the standings in the Northwest League. It felt like tonight's game was a must win for the ball club and they were able to pull off an incredible late inning rally. Rodolfo Nolasco got hit by a pitch to start the inning and Kachel followed it up with a single to put the game tying run on. Thomas Gavello ripped a double to left center-field that scored Nolasco on the play and cut the deficit to just 1 run.
The next batter, Garrett Frechette, was battling with 2 strikes when he was able to drive a ball to deep right field for his 2nd sacrifice fly of the night and the game was tied up at 3. With 2 outs that brought Tanner O'Tremba to the plate. He had 2 strikes on him when he lifted a baseball over the right side of the infield that scored Gavello on the play and gave Eugene the 4-3 lead.
Cam Cotter came out to pitch the bottom of the 9th inning after tossing a scoreless 8th and he was able to repeat his magic once again on the mound. Things got scary for a second when Jose Fernandez had a 2-out single but David Martin hit into a groundout to end the game and give Eugene the 1-run victory.
The win tonight was exactly what Eugene needed after dropping the first 3 games in Hillsboro. Eugene moves to just 2.5 games out of 1st place in the Northwest League standings as we start to hit the homestretch in the 1st half of the season.
The Ems will look to make it 2 in a row tomorrow night against the Hops. Seth Lonsway is on the mound for Eugene with first pitch set for 4:05 P.M.
Northwest League Stories from June 1, 2024
- Carrigg's Career Night Carries Indians in 13-4 Win - Spokane Indians
- Emeralds' Bats Go Nuclear in Victory Over Hops - Eugene Emeralds
- Hillsboro Gives up Seven Runs in One Inning - Hillsboro Hops
- Oat Milkers Toast to Another Shutout Win - Vancouver Canadians
- House of Pain: Dust Devils Swept in Friday Doubleheader at the Nat - Tri-City Dust Devils
- Indians Tricera-Topped on Dinosaur Night, 4-3 - Spokane Indians
- Eugene Scores Three in the Ninth in Hops' Loss - Hillsboro Hops
- A 3-Run 9th Inning Completes the Comeback for Eugene - Eugene Emeralds
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