Ems claim ninth win in last ten games

River Stevens drove in the eventual winning run in the fifth inning as the Ems opened up a five-game set with the Boise Hawks with a 2-1 win.

The Ems jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Ronnie Richardson drew a walk to lead off and then stole second base. It would take a two-out single from Maxx Tissenbaum to drive in Richardson and give the Ems the early lead.

In the Bottom of the 2nd the game would be delayed for 15 minutes as a torrential downpour rolled through along with thunder and lightning. It was a quick delay but the first weather delay for the Emeralds since moving to PK Park.

Eugene's starter Chris Wilkes struggled with command walking 4 in 2.2 innings. Boise scored their only run of the game after a lead off walk to Gioskar Amaya in the 3rd. Amaya scored one batter later when the #2 hitter in the league, Stephen Bruno, belted a double off the wall in left.

Joe Church would come in to finish the 3rd and deal a perfect 4th as well. The bullpen dominated tonight as all told Church, Reyes, Wieber and Madrid combined to go 6.1 innings without allowing a hit. They did walk two and hit two batters but they also struck out eight.

The Emeralds would take a 2-1 lead in the 5th off Boise starter Ian Dickson when Alberth Martinez reached base on an error by third baseman Jeimer Candelario. Martinez came around to score when the next hitter, River Stevens, lined a double over the head of Candelario that allowed Martinez to score.

The Ems bullpen would close it out from there as Boise managed only two hits for the game. Genison Reyes picked up the win as Roman Madrid notched his 9th save in 10 chances.

Eugene has won 9 of 10 and will try to keep it rolling in game two of this series Friday Night, first pitch at 7:05pm.