Eugene Emeralds vs. Everett AquaSox

Trafton B.

August 26, 2010 - 10:31 PM

Earlier tonight my roommates - Ross, Steven and Winston - and I headed over to PK Park to watch some Minor League Baseball action as the Eugene Emeralds took on the Everett AquaSox. Okay, we may have been lured to the park by Thirsty Thursday, but at least we're supporting our local team, right?

The highlight of the night happened around the 3rd Inning when a foul ball off the bat of the AquaSox clean up hitter found its way to our section. It ricocheted off the top of the stadium behind home plate and plopped down in the row in front of us. The ball actually landed directly into a girl's cup and splashed soda all over the kid next to her. At the same time, I became overzealous trying to catch the ball and happened to spill some of my drink on the kid too. I felt really bad until he leaned over to his mother and laughed, "I think I need to take a shower when I get home." His spirits remain high and the girl gave the ball to him afterwards, so it all worked out in the end.

Meanwhile, the game turned out to be a big victory for the Ems. They were down a run until the bottom of the 5th inning when they scored two twice lands to a subpar defensive effort by the Everett infielders. First, Wes Cunningham whiffed on a change up for the third strike, but the ball scooted past the Everett catcher to the backstop, which allowed Cunningham to take first base and Oscar Garcia to steal home to tie the game. Later in the inning they scored again when the second baseman booted a groundball. We concluded that any player still in Single-A short season at this time of year probably deserves to be there. We noticed that everyone was lacking a certain polish and shine that Triple-A and Major Leaguers shared.

At that point, the score was 2-1 and the Emeralds never looked back. They tacked on four more runs in the 7th inning to go up 6-1, which ended up being the final score. For the rest of the game, we sat back and enjoyed the show. Winston recognized the Emeralds catcher, Rocky Gale, who he'd played with at McNary High School in Keiser.

Meanwhile, Steven and I were doing our best impressions of Major League scouts as the Emeralds bullpen took over in the later innings. A little known fact about me is that my dream job is a baseball scout in the major leagues. I would literally drop any job and any future plans if I were given the opportunity to become a scout. Getting paid to watch minor league games. All I have to do is hold up a speed gun and jot down notes every once in a while. Sign me up!

I'll make one bold prediction. Mark my words; we'll see Xavier Esquivel in the major leagues in a few years. He pitched a perfect 7th and 8th inning for the Ems - six up, six down with three strikeouts. Watch for that name coming up through the Padres farm system. We'll see if I'm cut out to be a scout or not.

Hopefully, we'll be able to make it to another game before the summer ends. The Salem-Keiser Volcanoes are coming into town next weekend. They're the minor league affiliate of the Giants, so I might actually have a little vested interest in the game. The Dave Matthews Band concert at the Columbia Gorge next weekend might get in the way though. I'll keep you posted.

Countdown until Ducks Season Opener: 9 Days!!