Thursday, Aug. 06, 2009

Dust Devils can't find late-inning magic

HERALD STAFF

EUGENE -- Perhaps two nights in a row is too much to ask.

One night after trailing 3-1 to the Eugene Emeralds in their last at-bat before rallying to win, the Tri-City Dust Devils found themselves in the exact situation again Wednesday.

This time, though, the Ems were up to the task.

Chris Fetter limited the Dust Devils to one hit while striking out eight in four dominating innings of relief -- including a 1-2-3 ninth -- to help Eugene snap a five-game losing streak with a 3-1 victory.

Fetter and starter Nicholas Greenwood (4-0) were a potent 1-2 pitching punch against Tri-City (27-18), which managed just four hits on the night and struck out 12 times.

The Emeralds (19-26) scored a run in the first and second innings. The Dust Devils, who left runners at second and third in the second inning, finally got on the board in the fourth.

Back-to-back walks and an error loaded the bases, and Jose Gonzalez lifted a sacrifice fly to center. But after the remaining runners moved up on a double steal, they were left stranded on an inning-ending strikeout.

Tri-City had just two baserunners the rest of the night, with only one getting as far as second.

The Dust Devils' pitchers acquitted themselves well, with starter Rob Scahill (0-2) giving up just two runs --one earned -- and walking none in four innings.

Kyle Walker threw two shutout innings in relief.