Due to their scheduled game being postponed for rain on June 17, the Eugene Emeralds and the Spokane Indians faced-off in a double-header at PK Park on Monday.
Here are the recaps from each of the games:
Game one
In the first game of the double-header, Eugene raced out to an early lead and never looked back. The Emeralds beat Spokane by a final score of 5-1.
Emeralds starting pitcher Michael Kelly got all the run support he needed before he even stepped foot on the mound. The first game of the double-header was slated as the makeup game for the one rained out in Spokane. So, the Indians took the role as the home team despite the game being played in Eugene.
The Emeralds took full advantage of being the away team in their home park. With two outs in the top of the first, Jalen Goree started a rally with a single to right field. Eugene followed up Goree’s single with four consecutive hits including a two-RBI double by Chase Jensen that gave the Emeralds a 3-0 lead early on Spokane.
Eugene designated hitter Cory Spangenberg tripled in the top of the second to score Rod Boykin before a sacrifice fly by Goree brought him home to put the Emeralds up 5-0.
Kelly took full advantage of the lead his offense gave him by allowing one run — a solo home run by Spokane center fielder Zach Cone in the bottom of the second — and four hits in six innings pitched.
In the Northwest League, each game of a double-header only has a duration of seven innings. So after Kelly threw six dominant innings, reliever Seth Lucio came in to pitch and the bottom of the seventh and closed the door on Spokane with a perfect 1-2-3 inning.
Former University of Oregon pitcher Darrell hunter made his first appearance back at PK Park since leaving the University. He pitched a perfect inning of relief in the top of the seventh.
Game two
While Eugene handled the Indians in the first contest, the second game of the double-header was an entirely different story. Behind a 10-run scoring effort, the visiting Indians shutout the Emeralds by a final score of 10-0.
Eugene starting pitcher Griffin Russell struggled early against the Spokane lineup. With a man on base in the top of the first, Spokane designated hitter Jose Trevino homered to left field to start off the offensive outburst. Russell lasted just 2.2 innings and gave up five runs on five hits and three walks.
The bullpen didn’t fair much better against the Indians. Collectively, the group also allowed five runs on five hits.
The Indians’ pitching staff combined to throw seven shutout innings, allowing just five Eugene batters to reach base all afternoon.
The Indians and Emeralds will play again tomorrow night for the fourth game of the six game series. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.
Follow Joseph Hoyt on Twitter @jhoyt42