Emeralds Drop Season Finale

In front of 4,388, the Emeralds went with lefty starter Juan Marcano in the season finale. In the top of the 1st, Spokane put together a couple of singles and a walk to plate two runs and take an early lead. Ryan Rua picked up an RBI with a single and catcher Patrick Cantwell drove in the other run with a sacrifice fly.

In the bottom of the 2nd, the Emeralds loaded the bases with none out but were stymied by Spokane starter John Kukuruda. Eugene 3B Gabriel Quintana grounded into a force out but reached first base. With the sacks still full, Alberth Martinez hit a pop up on the infield and Quintana inexplicably took off for second base making it an easy inning-ending double play.

The Ems would get on the board in the 3rd on LF Jeremy Baltz's fifth home run of the season. It could have been more with Stephen Carmon starting the inning with a walk, but a double play ball off the bat of RF Corey Adamson cut him down. In the 5th, the Ems got a runner to third base with just one out, but Carmon and Adamson each grounded out and again the Emeralds could not capitalize.

Marcano gave up another run in the 6th on a two-out single from Cantwell. He finished 5.2 innings collecting six strikeouts but finished with the loss. For the final three innings, the Emeralds could manage just two base runners against the Spokane bullpen. In the 7th, Goose Kallunki reached on a dropped third strike but could not advance past first base. In the 8th, Maxx Tissenbaum reached on a fielding error by 1B Smerling Lantigua but again the offense could do nothing with the gift.

Indians closer, Alec Asher, completed the final two innings striking out five of the seven hitters he faced. At the time the game concluded, Eugene still had a glimmer of hope that Yakima could come back in the bottom of the 9th to defeat Vancouver and keep Eugene's playoff hopes alive. Instead, the Canadians closed out the 3-1 victory and eliminated the Ems from contention.

In an anomaly in the new playoff format, Eugene will finish no worst than tied for the best overall record in the NWL, but will not play in the four-team playoff starting Monday. The championship drought continues for Eugene, but the Emeralds would like to sincerely thank all of our fans for another outstanding season of Emeralds Baseball. We can't wait to see you out here in 2013, after all we are due!!