Ems Slam Hops 8-2 in Eugene
Will Wilson’s grand slam capped a six-run bottom of the eighth inning on Thursday night at P.K. Park, and the Eugene Emeralds beat the Hillsboro Hops 8-2 in the Ems’ home opener. Hillsboro batters struck out 17 times, one shy of the franchise high of 18 set just five days
First baseman
Workman, however, gave up an unearned run in the sixth as Eugene took their first lead of the game.
It was still 2-1 Eugene in the top of the eighth, when Hops second baseman
Eugene, however, would rally in the bottom of the eighth against Hops reliever Joe Jones, but the damage to the Hops was mostly self-inflicted. With one out, Rincones singled to right, and Fitzgerald was beaned by a fastball from Jones (and subsequently removed for a pinch-runner). Franklyn Labour walked to load the bases, and a wild pitch brought home the go-ahead run. Ismael Mungia then hit a fly ball to deep left for a certain sacrifice fly, and the ball was dropped by Hops left fielder
R.J Dabovich flashed an excellent fastball-change combination in the top of the ninth, striking out the side in order to end the game. Eugene (6-3) remains one game behind first-pace Everett in the High-A West League, while the Hops (4-5) fall three games behind.
Game four of the six-game series—the second of four in Eugene—will be on Friday night at 7:35. The pregame show begins at 7:00 on Rip City Radio 620AM and ripcityradio.com.