Emeralds Go Batty As First Series Ends

The Eugene Emeralds left Spokane and finally left a strong impression.

Eugene totaled 19 hits, 15 during the middle three innings, to swarm the Spokane Indians 9-5 Saturday night to complete a five-game series at Avista Stadium.

The Indians won the season-opening series 3-2, but with a few breaks the Emeralds could have won four of five during their only visit to Spokane.

Eugene outhit Spokane 36-25 in the first four games, but lost one game on a 10th-inning error and another despite allowing just two hits.

“We just didn’t execute in those other games, and we know better,” said Eugene right fielder Nic Jackson, who went 3 for 3 in five innings’ work. “Those other games were not indicative of how this team is going to play.”

“You can always second-guess things, and maybe that’s what we did,” said winning pitcher Mark Freed. “We made mental and physical mistakes earlier in the series. But in the first five games, you’re still learning how to play together as a team.”

Freed allowed two hits and no earned runs in five innings.

Emeralds leadoff hitter Blake Blasi went 4 for 4 to finish the series 12 for 22. Center fielder Michael Mallory, the No. 3 hitter in the order, added a 3-for-4 night. Mallory and Brandon Sing homered during a four-run, seven-hit fourth inning off Spokane starter Ian Ferguson (0-1).

Blasi, Mallory, Jackson and Freed were all selected during the first 10 rounds of this year’s amateur draft. Third-rounder Jackson attended Richmond (Va.) University, the hometown college where his father also played outfield. Freed, a ninth-rounder from Mississippi State, hails from New Jersey and was originally drafted out of high school by the Pittsburgh Pirates.

“We (pitchers) chart games from behind home plate, so I saw how I might be able to get outs,” Freed said. “But I throw differently than the other guys.”

Spokane starter Ferguson and first reliever Wes Wilkerson were responsible for all nine runs and a combined 17 hits in 5-1/3 innings. Eugene had six consecutive hits in the fourth, and four consecutive hits in both the fifth and sixth.

Spokane poked away at Eugene’s 9-1 lead with a three-run sixth, keyed by Justin Gemoll’s two-run single to left. First baseman Chad Santos lined a solo homer to right in the eighth, giving him all three of Spokane’s homers this season.

Santos finished the opening series 6 for 14. Spokane center fielder Marco Cunningham is 9 for 20, and 8 for his last 14, after Saturday’s 2-for-5 effort in his first shot as leadoff hitter.

Santos and Cunningham have been bright spots in an Indians offense that is batting .208. Five of Saturday’s starters are a combined 10 for 76 (.132) with one series in the bag.

Spokane’s 3-2 start is its best since 1997, when it swept an opening five-game series from Salem-Keizer.

The Indians begin their first road series of the season tonight at Vancouver, British Columbia. The five-game series will mark the debut of NWL baseball in Vancouver. The franchise played the previous 21 years in Medford, Ore.

Spokane’s projected starter is Kyle Turner (0-1, 3.60), the opening-night starter. The Indians plan to use the same five-man rotation in Vancouver that they used against Eugene.

Spokane’s next home series begins Friday, against Boise.