Courtesy: Eugene Emeralds
EUGENE, Ore.– The Emeralds were facing a left-handed starter for the 2nd straight game and they were hoping to greet Ryan Yarbough with a 5-run 1st inning as they had Luiz Gohara the night before. Instead, Yarbough came out dealing retiring the side in order with a couple of strike outs.
Eugene starter, Zech Lemond, allowed a leadoff double in the 2nd inning to 3B Kyle Petty. After striking out the next hitter, LF Corey Simpson picked up an RBI single and Everett was ahead 1-0. Lemond would complete 5 innings while collecting 5 strike outs and allowing just that 1 run on 3 hits.
Yarbrough is on a 3 inning limit for each of his outings after pitching a full season at Old Dominion University this spring. On Friday night he retired all 9 batters he faced including 7 punch outs. He would turn the ball over to right hander Brett Ash to start the 4th inning and Ash kept the perfecto going with a strike out and a pair of ground outs.
Eugene would finally get a base runner when Jalen Goree drew a one-out walk in the 5th. On the very next pitch, Nick Vilter hit into a round-the-horn double play to end the inning. In the 6th inning with two down River Stevens broke up the no-hitter with a single up the middle. After Stevens swiped 2nd base, Auston Bousfield grounded out to end the threat. The Ems would get another two-out base runner with a walk in the 7th but that would be all the offense the Ems would must Friday night.
Everett added a run in the 8th inning off All-Star reliever Aaron Cressley utilizing a leadoff single from 1B Kristian Brito. After a strike out and a ground out, Cressley induced a comebacker that should have ended the inning. However, the throw was out of the reach of 1B Marcus Davis and Brito came into score. In the top of the 9th, Seth Lucio came in out of the Ems pen and allowed 2 doubles to the first 3 batters making it 3-0 Aquasox.
Everett used their 3rd pitcher of the night, Kody Kerski, to finish off the 8th and 9th. Kerski retired all 6 batters he faced including 5 by way of the strike out in picking up his 3rd save of the year. Lemond took the tough luck loss and Brett Ash was the winning pitcher.
The series continues Saturday night with first pitch scheduled for 7:05pm.
