Emeralds hold off Indians
The fireworks show was big. Enormous. It was worthy of the celebration of the independence of the United States of America. Most enjoyed the display from their seats, but not Freddie Thon.
As most of the players began to get seats near the first base line to watch the fireworks Monday after the Eugene Emeralds’ 6-3 Northwest League victory over the Spokane Indians, Thon was walking toward the clubhouse. While many of 6,737 in attendance at Avista Stadium enjoyed the explosion of red, white and blue colors, Thon was in front of his locker getting undressed.
Thon, who last week won a game for the Indians with a game ending grand slam, had wanted to make sure the fans remembered Monday’s game for something other than the fireworks. With runners on first and third, and the Indians downs 6-3 in the ninth, one swing from the left-handers bat could have accomplish that, but “I just got a little bit over anxious,” said Thon, who struck out to end the game.
“It would have been great,” said manager Greg Riddoch, “but how many times can you ask for that?”
With Indians down 6-2 to visiting Eugene to start the ninth, German Duran singled to center with one out and then Steve Murphy moved him to third with a single to right field. John Mayberry Jr. followed with a strike out and left Ben Crabtree with the task of keeping the game alive.
Crabtree who joined the team on Sunday at Yakima did just that. Hustling down the line on a grounder to the second baseman, Crabtree reached safely when the first baseman dropped the ball. Duran scored on the play to make it 6-3 with Thon due up. Three pitches later, the game ended.
“I’m upset,” said Thon as to why he wasn’t around as the booms and bangs of the fireworks show grew louder. “It’s not a night for celebration.”
At one point the Indians were down 6-0, but still battled back. And that’s what disappointed Thon.
“We came back,” he said. “We played OK, we hit OK, but we had some bad luck and it didn’t work out.”
Part of the reason it didn’t work out was Emeralds’ starting pitcher Arnold Hughey, who allowed only one hit in the first five innings pitched. He struck out five in 5 2/3 innings pitch to record his first win.
Nick Hundley began the scoring in the top second with a leadoff home run off starter Jesse Hall. With one out, it looked as if Hall were going to get the second on a grounder to second base, but Julio Santana raised his glove prematurely and the ball went between his legs, allowing Drew Davidson, who had followed Hundley with a single and moved to second on a wild pitch, to score to make it 2-0.
The Emeralds touched up Hall for one more in the fourth and then got to the bullpen twice in the fifth and once in the sixth.