Eugene Bats Erupt in 12-4 Win

SPOKANE, Wash. – The Eugene Emeralds used a late-inning power surge, blasting three homers in the final four innings to beat Spokane, 12-4, in the series opener in front of 2,372 humans and 72 dogs on Bark in the Park Night presented by Alaskan Brewing Co.

­TOP PERFORMERS

• Franklin Labour was the star of the night. He went 3-for-5 with a mammoth three-run shot in the seventh inning to extend the lead for Eugene. He finished the night with four RBI and leads the team with 36 on the season.
• AJ Lewis tallied the first multi-hit night of his minor league career, going 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.
• Niko Decolati launched a solo shot in the bottom of the first. He’s now tied for second on the team with eight long balls.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Helcris Olivarez gave up three earned runs in five innings while striking out six. It’s his fifth-consecutive start pitching at least five innings.
• Eugene went 4-for-6 with runners in scoring position, while Spokane went just 1-for-6 and left nine men on base.
• The 12 runs were a season-high for Eugene. Spokane has given up 10+ runs in back-to-back home games, going back to their 10-3 series finale loss to Tri-City on July 4.

KEY MOMENT

With the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the fourth and Spokane trailing 4-3, Isaac Collins lined a ball into center field. After some confusion as to whether it was caught, the base umpire ruled it was indeed a catch. The home plate umpire determined that Hunter Stovall left third base early in an attempt to score, giving Eugene a double play to end the inning. Various Spokane players and coaches argued the entire sequence to no avail. Heath Quinn hit a three-run homer an inning later to give Eugene a four-run lead and put the game away.

AROUND THE LEAGUE

The Tri-City Dust Devils picked up their first win at Funko Field this season thanks to a five-run eighth inning. Tri-City edged Everett, 9-8, on Tuesday night.

The Vancouver Canadians picked up a third-straight victory with a narrow 3-2 victory over the Hillsboro Hops.

NEXT GAME AT AVISTA STADIUM

Spokane and Eugene continue their six-game series on Wednesday for Fields of Green Sweepstakes presented by Wittkopf Landscape Supply, a SiteOne Company. Sign up at the game to be entered to win a yard makeover courtesy of Wittkopf Landscape Supply, a SiteOne Company. The winner will win the professional services of the Spokane Indians award-winning grounds crew for a day, plus yard tips that will keep your yard looking healthy and new. First pitch for Wednesday’s game is at 6:30 p.m. The Avista Stadium gates will open at 5:30 p.m. Get your tickets by CLICKING HERE.