Heartbreak in Hillsboro as Ems Lose Late Lead
June 30, 2019 - Northwest League (NWL1)
Eugene Emeralds News Release
With each passing game on this current roadtrip, the Eugene Emeralds (7-9) face a different test of their mental fortitude and resolve. This time, a late-inning comback doomed the boys from the Emerald Valley, with the Hillsboro Hops (10-6) eventually breaking through in walk-off fashion, a 4-3 final in 10 innings in front of 3,752 at Ron Tonkin Field.
Facing a stern test with Hops starter Luis Frias on the mound, the Ems burst open the scoring in the top of the second inning. Jake Slaughter began the frame by cracking a triple deep to right-center field, splitting Kristian Robinson and Jorge Barrosa in the outfield. He would then score on an RBI double to deep center off the bat of Jonathan Soto. After Soto later advanced to third in the inning. Reivaj Garcia knocked in home by legging out an infield single, putting the Emeralds ahead, 2-0.
Unfortunately, Garcia would be forced to exit the game after the play, rolling his right ankle on the first base bag. He would walk back gingerly to the dugout under his own power, replaced in the game by Luis Diaz.
The Hops would then even up the score in the bottom of the third inning off Ems starter Didier Vargas. Andy Yerzy drew a one-out walk before Kristian Robinson singled to center. After a wild pitch advanced both runners to second and third, Jorde Barrosa slapped a ball the opposite way to left, plating both Yerzy and Robinson to tie the game at two apiece.
Meanwhile, Luis Frias racked up 9 strikeouts in his 5.0 innings of work, finishing his start for the Hops by retiring 10 straight batters.
The Ems would find a breakthrough in the sixth off of reliever Trevor McKenna. McKenna served up a single to Fernando Kelli before hitting Edmond Americaan with a pitch and walking Yonathan Perlaza to load the bases. After a mound visit, Jake Slaughter lifted a fly ball to Jorge Barrosa in right, scoring Kelli to move the Ems ahead, 3-2. However, this would be the only run the Ems would push across in the frame.
After 3.1 stellar innings of shutout work out of the bullpen from Blake Whitney, Riley McCauley was called upon to shut the door in the ninth. McCauley struggled to find the strike zone, walking the first two Hops batters of the inning. After striking out Nick Dalesandro, Ricky Martinez glanced a shot just inside of the first base line and down into the right field corner, scoring the tying run. McCauley would settle down to strike out Steven Leyton and Eddie Martinez, sending the game to extra innings tied at 3-3.
In the top of the tenth, facing Joe Cuas, Luis Diaz attempted to bunt Luis Vazquez, the runner beginning the inning at second, over to third. However, his bunt bounced right to Cuas on the mound, who threw over to third to nab Vazquez. The Ems would go on to end the inning scoreless offensively.
Trying to stave off defeat, Manager Lance Rymel chose to intentionally walk Andy Yerzy to begin the bottom of the tenth inning with Eddie Martinez beginning at second base. McCauley would get Kristian Robinson to fly out to right to get the first out. Then, during the at-bat to Jorge Barrosa, McCauley spiked a fastball that trickled away from the catcher Jonathan Soto. With runners attempting to advance, Soto was able to gather the ball and fire a strike to Perlaza at third who tagged out Martinez for a big second out. Yerzy did advance to second base on the play.
After a length at-bat, Barrosa got the better of McCauley, lacing a 3-2 pitch the opposite way into left field, scoring Yerzy to give the Hops a 4-3, walk-off win. The loss drops the Emeralds to 7-9 on the season and increases the team's current losing streak to five games. The Ems will attempt to salvage the series finale in Hillsboro on Sunday evening. Niels Stone will start for Eugene, with first pitch scheduled for 4:05pm live on 95.3 The Score.
Northwest League Stories from June 30, 2019
- Boise Drops Finale 11-9 against Salem-Keizer - Boise Hawks
- C's Win Second Straight in Dramatic Fashion; Top Spokane 5-4 - Vancouver Canadians
- Brooms and Smiles at Ron Tonkin Field - Hillsboro Hops
- Cease Slated to Make MLB Debut on Wednesday - Eugene Emeralds
- Alumni Update | Reyes, Renfroe Making Case for MLB Home Run Derby - Eugene Emeralds
- Sunday, June 30th Youth Baseball Clinic - Tri-City Dust Devils
- Heartbreak in Hillsboro as Ems Lose Late Lead - Eugene Emeralds
- C's Snap Seven-Game Skid with Shutout Win over Spokane - Vancouver Canadians
- AquaSox No-Hit in Tri-City - Everett AquaSox
- Dust Devils Throw Combined No-Hitter - Tri-City Dust Devils
- Tyler Plantier Notches First Pro Home Run as Boise Wins 4-2 over Salem-Keizer - Boise Hawks
- Late Inning Comeback Leads Hops over Ems - Hillsboro Hops
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