1 day ago
Several times over the past few weeks since getting promoted to High-A, members of the Eugene Emeralds staff have provided gentle reminders to Cam Maldonado that he was closing in on a 20-20 season.
"Two more homers for 20-20," they'd say, noting what Maldonado needed to notch at least 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases in the same season. He appreciated the updates, but took it all in stride.
Still, when Eugene traveled to Everett, Washington this week for a six-game series with the AquaSox, Maldonado figured he'd have a good chance at reaching the milestone. Funko Field, after all, has a reputation as a real hitter's paradise.
It sure was for Maldonado on Thursday night.
The Wolcott product and former Hamden Hall star stepped up to the plate as the second batter of the ballgame and clubbed a two-run homer on a 1-2 pitch over the left-field wall. Two innings later, on a 2-1 pitch, Maldonado led off the third with another homer to left to reach the 20-20 mark for the season.
#season #high #emeralds
"Two more homers for 20-20," they'd say, noting what Maldonado needed to notch at least 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases in the same season. He appreciated the updates, but took it all in stride.
Still, when Eugene traveled to Everett, Washington this week for a six-game series with the AquaSox, Maldonado figured he'd have a good chance at reaching the milestone. Funko Field, after all, has a reputation as a real hitter's paradise.
It sure was for Maldonado on Thursday night.
The Wolcott product and former Hamden Hall star stepped up to the plate as the second batter of the ballgame and clubbed a two-run homer on a 1-2 pitch over the left-field wall. Two innings later, on a 2-1 pitch, Maldonado led off the third with another homer to left to reach the 20-20 mark for the season.
#season #high #emeralds
5 days ago
Aug. 24—It's crunch time for the Spokane Indians.
Just 12 games remain in the regular season, and if they are going to play meaningful games the last week of the season — at least relative to the standings — they are going to have to make some headway this week.
To do so, they are going to have to get some better pitching. The Indians (25-28) dropped four of six to last-place Hillsboro last week, giving up 54 runs and a whopping 73 hits with 31 walks in 54 innings in the process.
Losing the series to Hillsboro didn't eliminate the Indians from postseason contention — but it won't be an easy challenge.
Entering play Tuesday, they sit five games behind first-place Eugene (30-23), but if the first-half champion Emeralds win the second half, the Indians can qualify for the playoff series by finishing second.
#indians #going #series
Just 12 games remain in the regular season, and if they are going to play meaningful games the last week of the season — at least relative to the standings — they are going to have to make some headway this week.
To do so, they are going to have to get some better pitching. The Indians (25-28) dropped four of six to last-place Hillsboro last week, giving up 54 runs and a whopping 73 hits with 31 walks in 54 innings in the process.
Losing the series to Hillsboro didn't eliminate the Indians from postseason contention — but it won't be an easy challenge.
Entering play Tuesday, they sit five games behind first-place Eugene (30-23), but if the first-half champion Emeralds win the second half, the Indians can qualify for the playoff series by finishing second.
#indians #going #series
19 days ago
Aug. 10—Eugene starting pitcher Hunter Dryden had a lot of folks out to the game last week at Avista Stadium for his Spokane homecoming. They cheered so loudly when he struck out one of the hometown Indians batters that it drew looks from others in the crowd.
"I didn't get an official tally," the Deer Park High School and Whitworth University alum said. "But I think it ended up being just over 60 people, which is incredible that everybody came in and did that. That was , like , insane for them to all do that, and I'm very appreciative."
After the game, in which Dryden tossed six innings of one-run ball in an eventual 13-1 win for the Emeralds, all his visitors came down onto the field to share the moment with the 24-year-old right-hander.
"I got to give them all hugs and talked to them for a while," he said. "My little cousins wanted autographs. And then there's a few people who had left before the game ended, so I got some texts from them and talked to them and, you know, thanked them for coming."
Dryden is in the midst of his second season of professional baseball in the San Francisco Giants organization. The Giants drafted him in the 17th round of the 2024 MLB draft after his four-year career at Whitworth.
#year
"I didn't get an official tally," the Deer Park High School and Whitworth University alum said. "But I think it ended up being just over 60 people, which is incredible that everybody came in and did that. That was , like , insane for them to all do that, and I'm very appreciative."
After the game, in which Dryden tossed six innings of one-run ball in an eventual 13-1 win for the Emeralds, all his visitors came down onto the field to share the moment with the 24-year-old right-hander.
"I got to give them all hugs and talked to them for a while," he said. "My little cousins wanted autographs. And then there's a few people who had left before the game ended, so I got some texts from them and talked to them and, you know, thanked them for coming."
Dryden is in the midst of his second season of professional baseball in the San Francisco Giants organization. The Giants drafted him in the 17th round of the 2024 MLB draft after his four-year career at Whitworth.
#year
26 days ago
Aug. 3—The 2026 Northwest League second half is becoming the **** le no one wants to win. But currently, the Spokane Indians sit in the driver's seat.
Even though the Indians merely split with fourth-place Vancouver last week, and are 4-6 over their past 10 games, they return to Avista Stadium this week in first place with a 20-16 record.
The upcoming series against second-place Eugene could set the tone for the stretch run.
Next up: The Indians host a six-game set against the Emeralds (19-17).
The Emeralds were the first-half champs. They feature Deer Park native RHP Hunter Dryden and San Francisco Giants No. 3 prospect OF Jhonny Level. The 19-year-old is hitting .299 with 15 homers, 70 RBIs and 17 stolen bases this season.
#place #second #half #northwest
Even though the Indians merely split with fourth-place Vancouver last week, and are 4-6 over their past 10 games, they return to Avista Stadium this week in first place with a 20-16 record.
The upcoming series against second-place Eugene could set the tone for the stretch run.
Next up: The Indians host a six-game set against the Emeralds (19-17).
The Emeralds were the first-half champs. They feature Deer Park native RHP Hunter Dryden and San Francisco Giants No. 3 prospect OF Jhonny Level. The 19-year-old is hitting .299 with 15 homers, 70 RBIs and 17 stolen bases this season.
#place #second #half #northwest
2 months ago
Jul. 12—EUGENE — Eugene's Lisbel Diaz hit two two-run home runs and the Spokane Indians lost to the Emeralds 9-5 in the finale of a six-game High-A Northwest League series at PK Park on Sunday.
Diaz finished 2-for-4 with four RBIs. The Indians (14-7) were led by Jacob Hinderleider, who had two hits, including a home run, and three RBIs.
Indians outfielder Tommy Hopfe hit the first pitch of the game for a solo home r, his 11th of the season.
Eugene (10-11) pounced on Indians starter Jordy Vargas in the bottom half. Diaz hit a two-out, two-run blast — his third of the week and 13th of the season. Zander Darby followed with a double and Jakob Christian knocked him in with a line -drive single to make it 3-1.
Diaz went deep again in the third, another two-run shot, for his second career two-home -run game in High-A.
Diaz finished 2-for-4 with four RBIs. The Indians (14-7) were led by Jacob Hinderleider, who had two hits, including a home run, and three RBIs.
Indians outfielder Tommy Hopfe hit the first pitch of the game for a solo home r, his 11th of the season.
Eugene (10-11) pounced on Indians starter Jordy Vargas in the bottom half. Diaz hit a two-out, two-run blast — his third of the week and 13th of the season. Zander Darby followed with a double and Jakob Christian knocked him in with a line -drive single to make it 3-1.
Diaz went deep again in the third, another two-run shot, for his second career two-home -run game in High-A.
