Five Errors Cost Indians

Sunday was the first time in nine games the Eugene Emeralds hadn’t given up a run in the first inning.

And it was the first time all season the Spokane Indians had been so off in the field - they committed a season-high five errors.

The result was a 5-4 Northwest League win for the league’s last-place Emeralds before 4,501 on a cool night at Seafirst Stadium.

The loss again dropped Spokane (38-22) two games behind North Division-leading Boise (40-20), which routed Portland 12-2 in Boise.

“It was just one of those days,” said Indians first baseman Jeremy Freitas, who had one of the errors. “Our defense didn’t pick us up when we needed it and our offense didn’t overcome.”

The Emeralds (21-39), who had lost 13 of their last 16, out-hit the Indians 10-9 and had three players with two hits. The victory was just the second in eight tries for Eugene against Spokane this season.

Eugene catcher Tye Hanseen had two hits, including a two-run single on a full-count in the sixth that put his team up 5-3. Emeralds relief pitcher Brian Mazone (1-6) picked up his first win and reliever Mike Corey threw two shutout innings to earn his seventh save of the season.

“I guess you could say they kind of beat themselves,” Hanseen said of Spokane. “They let us hang around long enough to get the win. They’re a great team and we’ve been struggling so it was good for us to beat one of the top two teams in the league.”

Indians starter Matt Burch, a first-round draft pick out of Virginia Commonwealth University, pitched 5-2/3 innings, allowing five runs on six hits, but only two of the runs he gave up were earned. Burch (1-2) had three strikeouts and no walks.

“He had a great outing,” Freitas said of Burch. “He gave us what we needed, but the team just let him down today.”

Spokane third baseman Henry Calderon became the league’s leading hitter after going 2 for 5 with a run-scoring double in the sixth. Calderon is hitting .352 and passed up teammate Paul Phillips (.345), who went 0 for 5 and had his eight-game hitting streak snapped. But Calderon also committed two errors.

Brian Shackelford drove in a run in the fourth and now shares the team lead in RBIs with right fielder Jeremy Dodson at 42.

Notes

Spokane manager Jeff Garber will miss games tonight and Tuesday. He flew home to Valdosta, Ga., this morning to take care of personal family business… . Right-hander Javier Pamus rejoined the Indians on Sunday after being promoted to Lansing a month ago. Pamus replaced Corey Thurman, who was moved up to Lansing last week… . Sunday’s game-time temperature was 71 degrees, the lowest this month… . Pitching tonight for Spokane is lefty Jeremy Jackson (0-1, 2.16 ERA) against Eugene right-hander Winston Abreu (0-3, 7.57 ERA).

Emeralds 5, Indians 4

Eugene Spokane ab r h bi ab r h bi Castro 2b 5 0 2 0 Ligons ss 3 1 1 0 Strickland lf 4 0 0 0 Calderon 3b 5 0 2 1 Sanchez dh 4 0 0 0 Phillips c 5 0 0 0 Simmons rf 5 1 2 0 Dodson rf 5 1 1 0 Oropeza 3b 5 2 1 1 Fry cf 4 2 1 0 Brignac ss 4 1 1 1 Freitas 1b 2 0 2 2 Stewart cf 4 1 1 1 Hart dh 3 0 0 0 Cheshier 1b 4 0 1 0 Shackelford lf 3 0 2 1 Hanseen c 4 0 2 2 Ruiz 2b 2 0 0 0 Montas 2b 1 0 0 0 Totals 39 5 10 5 Totals 33 4 9 4 Eugene 010 202 000 - 5 Spokane 000 121 000 - 4 E-Brignac (31), Ligons (14), Calderon 2 (14), Freitas (7), Burch (1). DP-Eugene 4, Spokane 1. LOB-Eugene 9, Spokane 9. 2B-Calderon (11), Freitas (18). SH- Strickland (1). SB-Simmons (22), Stewart (10), Ligons (14).

Eugene IP H R ER BB SO

Garmong 4 1 1 0 6 0 Mazone W,1-6 3 7 3 3 0 0 Corey S,7 2 1 0 0 0 1

Spokane IP H R ER BB SO

Burch L,1-2 5-2/3 6 5 2 0 3 Gilfillan 2-1/3 3 0 0 0 1 Lee 1 1 0 0 1 2 WP-Mazone (1). HBP-by Garmong (Freitas). BK-Garmong (1).

T-2:55. A-4,501.