Ems Shut Down Hops, Avoid Sweep

EUGENE, OR - After getting bit by the "big inning" in the last two games, the Eugene Emeralds finally got strong pitching throughout and avoided the sweep with quick 2-1 victory in front of 3,801 at PK Park.

Starter Paul Richan pitched well enough to get a win for the Ems (10-11, 24-35), but only went four innings, shutting the Hops (13-8, 37-22) down while striking out five, matching his career high.
It was more of the same for Richan, as he has now gone 22 innings and given up just three earned runs.
Eugene gave their young hurler some support in the third inning, when Levi Jordan singled with one out. He came around to score when Luis Vazquez fought off a couple tough pitches and poked a ball down the left field line.
They added one more in the fifth when Jordan once again singled with one out. A stolen base moved him to second before D. J. Artis drove a ball down the line and scored Jordan to make it a 2-0 game.
Stephen Ridings (3-1) came in for Richan in the fifth and stifled the Hops until the sixth when Will Gorman doubled to right.
After a strikeout to Ryan Tufts, one his three on the night, Jorge Perez singled and moved Gorman to third. Jake McCarthy hit a sac fly to cut the lead to 2-1. Perez was caught stealing to end the inning.
Ridings settled after that, completing a perfect seventh inning. Mitch Stophel earned his second save of the year with perfect eighth and ninth innings, collecting three strikeouts along the way.
Luke Reynolds had exit the game after fouling a pitch off of his foot in the fourth inning. He grounded out to finish the at-bat but limped down the line. He is scheduled for x-rays.
The Ems stay at home while the Boise Hawks come to town. Eury Ramos will take the mound for the Ems and look for his second win of the year. It is Animal House night at PK Park as the Ems celebrate the cult classics' 40^th anniversary. Bring a toga and get tickets at the Box Office or online at emeraldsbaseball.com.