Spokane Indians commit five errors in loss to Eugene
The Spokane Indians built a six-run lead in the second inning but committed five errors and lost to the Eugene Emeralds 11-8 in the third of a five-game Northwest League series at Avista Stadium on Saturday.
In addition to the errors, Spokane pitchers walked eight, hit two batters and threw three wild pitches.
The Indians (7-3, 23-25) struck for six runs on six hits in the second, highlighted by Kole Enright’s bases-loaded double and a two-run triple by Texas Rangers 2017 first-round draft pick Chris Seise.
Spokane starter Hever Bueno issued four walks to begin the third inning and was lifted for reliever Ismel Lopez with the bases loaded. Lopez allowed all the inherited runners to score.
Bueno pitched 2 1/3 innings and surrendered four runs – three earned – on one hit and five walks with a strikeout in his second appearance for the Indians.
Matt Whatley began the Indians half of the third with a single and scored on a groundout by Curtis Terry to put the Indians ahead 7-6. Whatley finished 3 for 5 with two runs.
Indians center fielder Miguel Aparicio (2 for 5, two RBIs) then chopped a ground ball to third-baseman Austin Filiere, who threw the ball into right field and pushed across another run for a two-run lead.
The Emeralds (6-4, 27-21) picked up a run in the fifth, then managed to load the bases with no outs in the top of the sixth. But Aparicio nabbed Ramsey Romero’s line in center, then nailed Jared Young at the plate with a perfect throw home for the double play.
Eugene left fielder Chris Carrier walked against reliever Joe Barlow to begin the seventh inning, stole second, and came around with the tying run after an errant throw by outfielder Chad Smith.
Joseph Kuzia was called upon to pitch the eighth inning for Spokane and got two quick outs. Romano reached on an infield single, moved up on a wild pitch and scored the go-ahead run on first baseman Curtis Terry’s third error of the game.
The Emeralds struck for two more runs in the ninth inning on three singles to extend their lead to 11-8.
Eugene’s Luis Aquino pitched a perfect ninth inning to earn his sixth save of the season.
The teams play in the fourth of a five-game series Sunday at 3:30 p.m.