Emeralds outlast Indians

The game of baseball is such that one can do something boneheaded one night and do something laudable the next night. You know, something akin to redemption.

Consider Eugene Emerald infielder Lachlan Dale, whose throwing error allowed the tying and winning runs to score Tuesday but bounced back to hit a two-run double to spark the Emeralds’ 5-3 Northwest League victory Wednesday in front of 3,462 fans at Avista Stadium.

“Last night was a tough loss and of course I was involved in that final play,” said Dale, a non-drafted 2001 signee out of Perth, Australia. “It’s always nice to come out and get a few RBIs the next night and help the team out the next night.”

Dale’s double came as Eugene took a 3-0 lead in the fifth inning before the Emeralds (11-15) added the insurance runs in the ninth.

Although it goes down in the loss column and moves Spokane back to .500 (13-13), the Indians still gave themselves a chance at more dramatics in the ninth inning.

Spokane loaded the bases with just one out, but managed to score just one as the Indians fell two games behind East Division leader Tri-City (15-11), which held off Salem-Keizer 7-4 on the road.

The Indians may have at least tied it in their half of the ninth had they not given up two runs in the top of the inning.

“Again we had a chance to tie it up in the ninth inning and the guys battled back,” Spokane manager Darryl Kennedy said. “It’s been the story all year that the one error we make (top of the ninth) really comes back to haunt us.”

It was similar sloppy play that was at the center of Spokane’s frustrations in the four losses at Vancouver. So Kennedy had a pre-game talk to address some concerns prior to Tuesday’s game.

Although some of the defensive woes still reared their head Tuesday, they were overshadowed by Spokane’s come-from-behind 7-6 win.

Wednesday, the Indians had difficulty breaking out of the blocks offensively as Eugene starter Alfredo Fernandez (2-0) handcuffed Spokane for five innings, allowing just one hit while striking out six.

“We really have to relax out there,” Kennedy said. “We’re playing a little uptight. Guys are trying so hard not to make mistakes that they’re making mistakes. They just need to play the game like we all know they can because if they couldn’t play the game they wouldn’t be here.”

After Eugene opened the 3-0 lead, Spokane chipped away with solo homers from Travis Metcalf and Billy Susdorf.

Notes

Spokane officials had a moment of silence before the game for Ethel Brett, the matriarch of the Brett family who passed away in Palm Desert, Calif… . The Indians’ top power hitter was promoted Tuesday. Brandon Cashman, who ranked second in the league in home runs (seven), was sent to Clinton, Iowa, of the Midwest League. Cashman set a NWL record earlier this season when he hit four homers in a game, was hitting .278 with a team-high 18 RBI. He ranked first in the league in extra-base hits (15) and second in slugging percentage (.684)… . The scheduled starters for the third game of the five-game series are a pair of right-handers, Shawn Phillips (0-0, 4.41 ERA) for Spokane and Michael Ekstrom (3-0, 0.00) for Eugene. Ekstrom is tied for second for most wins in the league… . San Diego Padres general manager Kevin Towers was in attendance Wednesday… . Spokane’s 7-6 come-from-behind win Tuesday was the seventh one-run victory this season. The Indians have lost three games by a run… . Wednesday’s game marked the first time in 26 games Spokane fielded the same batting order back-to-back.