Offense Sparks in Win

Eugene, OR - After scoring first for the first time this season, the Emeralds continued to pile on the runs en route to a 6-1 victory over the Canadians in front of 3,642 at PK Park on Sunday afternoon. 

After trailing in every game to start the season, The Ems (2-2) got the scoring started early in the second inning when Gustavo Polanco smacked his first homer over the year onto the roof of the PDA in right field. 
The scoring continued in the third when, with 2 outs, Aramis Ademan tripled on a fly ball to center fielder Reggie Pruitt, who had some issues handling the ball. 
Rafael Narea singled home Ademan to make it a 2-0 game off of starter Wilfri Aleton (0-1, 9.64 ERA). Narea later scored after back to back singles by Miguel Amaya and Polanco to make it 3-0.  
That lead would go to 4-0 in the fourth after Jhonny Bethencourt singled, stole a base and moved to third on a sacrifice fly by Jose Gonazalez. Then with 2 outs, Zach Davis laid down a bunt up the third baseline that caused the catcher Matt Morgan's throw to pull first baseman Yorman Rodriguez off the bag and allowed Bethencourt to score. 
Starter Enrique De Los Rios (1-0, 1.80 ERA) cruised through his first four innings of work before the Canadians (2-2) got on the board with a lead-off home run to Bryan Lizardo. De Los Rios got the next two out quickly, but put Morgan and Chavez Young  on by a walk and hit by pitch. 
A visit to mound settled De Los Rios enough to finish the inning, forcing Pruitt into a force out. De Los Rios finished with five innings and just the one run on three hits, walking one and striking out five. 
The Ems would respond the next two innings, with Rafael Narea doubling and being driven home by Joe Martarano with two outs in the bottom of the fifth. In the sixth, Gonzalez tripled to lead things off and was driven home one batter later by a Davis double. 
Vancouver never had a chance to get back into the game, having just one base runner over the next four innings thanks to stellar bullpen work by Mark Malave and Luis Aquino. Aquino went the final 3 frames to earn his first save of the year. He struck out four batters and gave up just one hit. 
Be sure to check out finale on Monday for New Country 93 Night. First pitch is at 7:05 PM, tickets can be purchased at emeraldsbaseball.com.