Emeralds Put On A Record Setting Show At PK

Posted on 05. Jul, 2011 at 2:36 am by Braga in Eugene Emeralds

The Eugene Emeralds won their 13th straight game 7-3 over the Vancouver Canadians Monday night in front of a record crowd, clinching a tie of the Northwest League record for consecutive wins.

“Most of these guys don’t even know about the record,” Ems Manager Pat Murphy said. “We’re not thinking much about streaks or wins and losses with these kids because they want to move up and have fun doing it.

“We’re having a lot of fun.”

Starting pitcher Juan Herrera (2-0) earned the win on four innings of three-hit, one run ball. Herrera, who signed as a non-drafted free agent with San Diego in 2007, struck out four on his way to his second win of the season. The Ems (16-2) had four pitchers combine for three runs on six hits, striking out eight Canucks.

The Ems lost third baseman Clint Moore to what appeared to be a hamstring injury after he ran out a fielder's choice in the sixth.

The score was 4-1 in the fifth inning when right fielder Lee Orr put the game away with a three-run homer to center field. It was his second home run of the season, and was the highlight of a great night of hitting by the Northwest League-leading Ems.

The Ems only had six hits, but walked nine times, including Orr, second baseman Cory Spangenberg and catcher Jeremy Rodriguez’s two walks each.

Orr celebrates. Hats off, sir. Photo by ME

Orr had been struggling on the season, only hitting .194 with five RBI. But he finished tonight’s game one-for-two with the two walks, two stolen bases, two runs scored, and three RBI, all of which came on his fifth-inning bomb.

He chose a good night to bounce out of a slump too. The game was played in front of the biggest crowd to watch a baseball game in PK Park, and the night was capped by a spectacular fireworks show.

Can't get enough. Photo by ME

The PK Park record crowd of 4,553 stuck around after the game and was treated to arguably the best show in the area. The Ems usually have a fireworks show every Friday night home game to the tune of 250 shells. This year’s Fourth of July show featured more than 3,000.

It was quite the show put on not only by the team, but the organization as well. Every year Eugene puts on a great fireworks show and this year was no different. Photo by ME

There were also a lot of legal and illegal shows going on around the park as the game went on. Fans could look out over both sides of the stadium and catch some illegals just over the skyline. While the fuzz probably doesn’t appreciate it, it made for an amazing night for fans and benchwarmers.

As good a show as it gets for the area. Photo by ME

Relief pitcher Chris Wilkes struck out the “beer batter” of the night, which made Ninkasi brews only $3 for the following fifteen minutes. So fans could kick back a Ninkasi, grab a burger at the consessions, watch some fireworks and — oh, yeah — watch the best team in the Northwest League put in work. Not a bad fourth at all, folks.

The result of the night could be seen on the face of Emeralds General Manager Allan Benavides, who rushed to the gates to greet fans as they left the park after the fireworks show. Visibly drained from the incredible amount of work he had to put in to make the night go off, fans — most of which probably had no idea who he was — shook his hand and exclaimed what a great show they just saw, making a wide grin replace the understandably tired look on his face.

The Ems will try to break the 1973 Walla Walla consecutive wins record Tuesday when Colin Rea (2-0, 1.79 ERA) faces Vancouver starter Ben White (0-0, 5.40). First pitch is at 7:05 p.m.

Featured below are some of the sites and sounds of the experience. I tried to do a slideshow but it didn’t work. Oh well. The video below it is only the opening. The show went on for a really long time. You can play it in 720 HD if your puny browser can handle it.