Eugene Emeralds sweep Spokane Indians

EUGENE – The evening couldn’t have gone worse for the Spokane Indians. Eloy Jimenez homered in both games Tuesday to fuel the Eugene Emeralds to a 5-1, 6-3 sweep over Spokane at PK Park. Spokane dropped to 11-15 for the second half of the Northwest League season, falling 41/2 games behind North Division-leading Everett (16-11), which defeated Salem-Keizer 4-1. The Indians have 12 games left in the regular season, including three with Everett starting Tuesday at Avista Stadium. Eugene (16-11) leads the South by one game. The Indians led the seven-inning second game 2-1 after Tyler Sanchez’s two-out, two-run double to left field in the third. Jimenez’s two-out, two-run homer to center in the third gave Eugene the lead for good. Craig Brooks struck out the side in the seventh to earn his first save. Eugene began the night by winning a nine-inning game that was suspended after three innings on Monday after a power outage. Eugene, clinging to a 2-1 lead, took charge with a three-run sixth against Tyler Davis. Jimenez’s one-out solo homer to left started the rally. The other hits went to center: Andrew Ely’s triple, Alex Bautista’s RBI single and P.J. Higgins’ two-out RBI double. Spokane left the bases loaded in the eighth on Ti’Quan Forbes’ foul pop-up. Jose Paulino (3-6) pitched shutout ball for 42/3 innings, fanning five.