The Eugene Emeralds won game two of their three game series with the Hillsboro Hops in dramatic fashion when Ronnie Richardson lined a single down the right field line, allowing Marcus Davis to score from third in the home half of the 11th inning at PK Park. The victory was Eugene’s second in a row after losing seven straight contests.
The first six innings were mostly lackluster, but the Ems had plenty of chances to score runs. Instead, six runners were stranded in scoring position and the game remained stagnant at 0-0.
Eugene struck first in the seventh rather unconventionally. With the bases loaded and no outs, Wynton Bernard hit a grounder to the Hops third baseman Jordan Parr who bobbled it and only had time to tag third for the force out, allowing Michael Bass to score the game’s first run.
Hillsboro would answer in the eighth when Ryan Gebhardt blooped a single to center, driving home Yogey Perez-Ramos.
Then things got really interesting.
With two outs in the top of the ninth, Hops outfielder Tyler Linton skied a solo shot into the trees beyond the left-center field fence for his second home run of the season, giving Hillsboro a 2-1 lead.
In the bottom half, Bernard tied the game with a sac fly to right, scoring Bass from third. With the momentum in the Emeralds’ favor, pinch hitter Fabel Filpo was drilled in the elbow. After a discussion, home plate umpire Kirk Struble ruled the ball foul and ordered Filpo back to the batter’s box. He would later strike out swinging, sending the game to extra innings.
“I thought I heard it hit plastic,” said manager Jim Gabella regarding the controversial play. “He had the elbow guard on and Kirk thought it [had] hit the bat. He said he was blocked out and that’s why he asked [field umpire] Jeff [Gorman] and they made the call and there’s nothing you can do about it.
Gabella wasn’t alone. Whether is was Filpo’s elbow guard or the bat the sound was distinct, and what was left of the PK Park crowd groaned in pain for Filpo’s elbow.
“The one good thing was our guys didn’t let it get them down and we still battled and got a win,” Gabella said.
On the mound, the Ems were led by lefty Jeffrey Enloe, who lasted a season-high six innings, scattering three hits and striking out seven along the way.
“He was pitching great,” Gabella said of his starter. “He changed speeds, he did a great job pounding the strike zone, just everything he had to do.”
Gabella called on four relievers to finish what ended up being the final five innings Monday night. Genison Reyes pitched a perfect top of the 11th and earned his first win of the season, improving to 1-1.
Medford, Oregon native Braden Shipley started for Hillsboro and touched 95 mph on the radar gun early on. Making his professional debut, he was pulled after two innings of work. Shipley was the 15th overall pick of June’s MLB Draft.