Monday, Jul. 21, 2008

Rauch's game-winning HR lifts Dust Devils in Eugene

By the Herald staff

EUGENE -- One day after helping pull off a game-saving defensive play, Austin Rauch found another way to win a game.

The 6-foot-3 first-baseman blasted a two-run home run over the leftfield wall with one out in the top of the ninth inning to give the Tri-City Dust Devils a 5-4 win over the Eugene Emeralds at Civic Stadium.

The Dust Devils (18-15) won their second straight game after snapping a seven-game losing streak Saturday against Boise.

Tri-City also picked up a game on East Division leader Spokane (25-8), which was beaten 14-2 by Salem-Keizer.

Christian Friedrich, the Colorado Rockies' first-round pick out of Eastern Kentucky, was masterful in his third start of the season, allowing just two hits, no walks and one unearned run in five innings.

Friedrich was in position for his first pro victory with a 3-1 lead thanks to Erik Wetzel's two-run double in the top of the sixth inning.

But Eugene rallied for three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to take a 4-3 lead.

Tri-City closer Austin Chambliss blew his first save opportunity of the year after relieving Sean Jarrett with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning. Chambliss allowed consecutive RBI singles to Joey Railey and Dan Robertson before getting Blake Tecotte to line out to second base.

But Chambliss (1-0), who leads the Northwest League with eight saves, picked up his first win since 2007.

Erik Wetzel hit a one-out single in the top of the ninth, which brought up Rauch, a 12th-round draft pick in 2007 out of El Capitan High School in El Cajon, Calif. Rauch lined his second homer of the year off Emeralds pitcher Nick Schumacher (1-1) for a 5-4 lead.

The Dust Devils got two hits apiece from Leonardo Reyes, Erik Wetzel and Charlie Blackmon.

It was the 10th multi-hit game this season for Blackmon, a second-round pick out of Georgia Tech, who also hit in his 12th straight game.