Eugene Upends Spokane Poquette Gets Ejected During Emeralds’ Eighth-Inning Rally

The rest of the eighth inning wouldn’t have made Spokane manager Tom Poquette any happier.

The Eugene Emeralds scored three runs in the eighth Friday night to slip past the Spokane Indians 10-8 in the middle game of a five-game Northwest League series at Civic Stadium.

Poquette missed Nic Jackson’s game-winning hit - a two-out, two-run single to right field - because he was ejected two batters earlier.

Poquette’s outburst came after Sam Cooper grounded to second base with one out in an 8-7 game. The Indians attempted a 4-6-3 double play, but only Cooper at first base was called out. The play extended the inning, leading to Jackson’s two-run hit and a wild pitch that scored Eugene’s 10th run.

It was Poquette’s first ejection.

Spokane (14-10) leads the North Division by one game over Everett, a 3-1 winner over SalemKeizer.

The Indians had been 12-0 in games other than series openers or finales.

Spokane appeared ready to make that record 13-0 when it rallied for five runs in the sixth for a 7-6 lead. Chad Santos, mired in a 0-for-18 slump, came off the bench to hit a three-run home run, his league-high eighth. Santos hadn’t homered in a week.

Eugene (12-12) tied the game at 7 in its seventh, but the Indians scored in their eighth without benefit of a hit. Jason Herzog had a one-out RBI grounder after the Indians loaded the bases on two walks and an error.

Ryan Jorgensen’s two-run single highlighted Eugene’s four-run first off starter Zach McClellan.

McClellan, who had missed two starts with an injury, lasted just one inning. Reliever Jon Metzger retired 10 consecutive batters during one stretch, with six strikeouts.

Ben Cordova had an RBI triple and scored during Spokane’s two-run fifth inning.