Herald staff
EUGENE, Ore. — The Everett AquaSox have done an impressive job of holding the bats of the Northwest League South Division-leading Eugene Emeralds in check during the first two games of the five-game series between the teams.
Monday’s game was no exception, though the Emeralds hurlers matched their AquaSox counterparts and used a walkoff RBI single from D.J. Wilson to defeat Everett 1-0 before 2,344 fans at PK Park.
The loss snapped a six-game winning streak for the AquaSox (18-7 second half, 36-25 overall). The Emeralds (18-7, 46-17) won for the first time since the AquaSox snapped their 15-game winning strike Saturday.
Everett reliever Michael Koval allowed back-to-back one-out singles to Jose Paniagua and Jose Gonzalez in the ninth to put runners at the corners. Wilson then drove in Paniagua for the game’s only run.
Koval (1-2) took the loss as he surrendered four hits in 1 1/3 innings. Eugene’s Andin Diaz (2-0) earned the win as he fanned two in two innings of one-hit relief.
The AquaSox might have lost much earlier, but Eric Filia robbed Wladimir Galindo of a two-run home run for the third out in the bottom of the first inning to keep the game scoreless.
The AquaSox loaded the bases with no outs in the second, but a popup and double play groundout helped the Emeralds get out of the inning unscathed.
Everett ended up stranding eight runners while Eugene stranded 10 in the contest.
Everett starter Ljay Newsome struck out five and allowed two hits and three walks in four scoreless innings before yielding to Jeffeson Medina.
Medina threw three scoreless innings while walking one and fanning two as the shutout remained intact before yielding to Koval.
Michael Knighton and Diaz combined for 4 1/3 innings of three-hit, scoreless relief of Eugene starter Tyson Miller.
Nick Thurman had two hits including a double and was the only AquaSox hitter with more than one hit. Chris Pieters had two hits for the Emeralds.
The series continues tonight at 7.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.