All nine hitters in Eugene’s batting order contributed a hit Monday night, helping the Ems to a 5-4 win over the Everett AquaSox. The bats bounced back in a big way, totaling 10 hits a night after amassing just three in a losing effort.
Everett struck first in the second inning, however, when Reggie Lawson singled home Christian Carmichael with two outs. The Emeralds doubled its way into the run column in the fourth. Donavan Tate led off the inning with a walk and was followed by back-to-back two-baggers. First from catcher Ryan Miller, the first of two hits for him on the night. With Tate and Miller aboard, Edwin Moreno doubled to center field, allowing both runners to score.
The AquaSox would strike right back in the home half of the inning. Austin Wilson crushed a two-run homer to right, bringing Carmichael in from first.
In the sixth, Miller collected his second extra-base hit of the night — a leadoff triple to deep right field. He would score easily on Chase Jensen’s base hit, tying the score at 3-3. The Ems would break through and take the lead for good in the seventh against Cameron Copping. Shortstop Felipe Blanco doubled to start things off and would advance to third on a bunt single by second baseman Anthony Torres. With runners on the corners and nobody out, Wynton Bernard hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Blanco and giving the Ems a 4-3 lead. Malquiel Brito added to the advantage, smacking a double to right that scored Torres. The Ems had a chance to further increase the lead when Tate reached base to put two on with one out, but reliever Richard White controlled the damage and retired the side.
The ninth inning was home to Ems closer Adam Cimber, who ultimately picked up his eighth save of the season, but it wasn’t smooth sailing. The first two batters were retired routinely, decreasing Everett’s prospects to nearly nothing. Kyle Petty kept hope alive with a two-out single and was replaced by pinch runner Bryan Brito. Brito advanced to second on defensive indifference and came around to score on Carmichael’s RBI single. Cimber got Wilson to ground out to end the game, locking up the 5-4 Emeralds win.
Ems starter Coby Cowgill received a no-decision in his fifth start of the season. He threw five innings, allowing three runs on as many hits with a walk and five K’s. Tyler Hale (2-1) was once again lights-out in relief, surrendering just one hit in two innings, lowering his ERA to 0.68 on the year. Josh Richardson and Cimber took care of the late innings, securing Eugene’s third win of the series.
The series concludes Tuesday night in Everett, where the Emeralds will look to take four of five from the AquaSox before returning home to PK Park for six games.