Big Inning Downs Emeralds
A huge third inning for the Boise Hawks proved to be too much for the Eugene Emeralds to overcome as they fell 9-4 in front of 3,531 at PK Park.
Ryan Williams (1-1) could not replicate his his first Ems (5-4) outing when he went six innings giving up three hits on just 51 pitches. Williams only lasted 2.2 innings, getting four strikeouts and walking just one while giving up seven runs, five earned, on seven hits.
He cruised through the first two innings, striking out the side in the first inning before a drop third strike allowed Daniel Jipping to reach first. A quick ground ball ended the first and Williams got two quick outs in the second before a Luke Morgan single. A pop out ended that inning.
It was the third inning where the wheels fell off for the Ems and the Hawks (4-5) took advantage, sending 13 men to the plate and knocking Williams out of the game. He left with a man on for Eugenio Palma and, after a pair of walks to load the bases; Palma got Jipping to strike out to end the inning. When the dust had settled the Hawks led 7-0 in the third.
The Ems got a run back in the bottom of the inning as Kwang-Min Kwon doubled to lead-off the inning. A strikeout, stolen base, and a pop out made it two outs with Christopher Morel to the plate and Kwon on third. Morel took a 2-2 pitch back up the middle to score Kwon and make it a 7-1 game.
Palma was not able to stem the tide in the fourth inning, as the Hawks score two more runs on a bases loaded Matt Hearn single. None of the runs were earned as two batters before shortstop Luis Vazquez bobbled a ball and allowed Morgan to reach safely.
Eugene got slightly closer in the fifth when Fernando Kelli singled with one out, and then came home to score on a Morel double that went down the left field line. It was Morel's second RBI of the night and he scored his first run on a wild pitch to make it 9-3.
The Ems once again tried to mount a comeback in the seventh, after Hawks reliever Carlos Polanco walked Luis Diaz and Kwon to start the inning before hitting Vazquez. Polanco was replaced by Mike Bunal and got two quick outs before walking Jonathan Sierra to score Diaz, making it 9-4.
Eugene would get no closer as they lose in a series opener for the first time this season. Casey Ryan, Stephen Ridings and Dalton Geekie all pitched scoreless baseball, with Ryan and Ridings going two innings each.
Don't forget to Bike to the Ballpark tomorrow to receive free bike valet and a $3 off discounted ticket. Lefty Brailyn Marquez will make his second start of the year for the Ems while Frederis Parra takes the hill for the Hawks. Gates open at 4 pm for a 5:05 pm first pitch.