Riddoch displays winning touch.

Byline: Steve Mims The Register-Guard

On the night when he became the winningest manager in Eugene Emeralds' history, Greg Riddoch accomplished another impressive feat as well: He won an argument with an umpire.

Kellen Kulbacki hit his first professional home run off the scoreboard in the bottom of the third inning, but umpire Phil Henry originally ruled it a double because the ball bounced back onto the field.

However, Riddoch argued that the ball hit the scoreboard and the umpires met and agreed that the ball did hit the board and was a home run.

"I don't go after umpires because they are the same age as my kids, but the ball hit the scoreboard and the light fluttered," Riddoch said.

Kulbacki's solo homer provided the margin of victory as the Ems defeated Yakima 3-2 in front of 2,229 Monday night in Northwest League baseball at Civic Stadium. It was the 236th career victory in Eugene for Riddoch, who passed his friend, the late Hugh Luby, on the franchise all-time wins list.

Riddoch managed the Ems in 1975-76 and 1978-81 before returning to the dugout this season. Riddoch, who led Eugene to its last two league titles in 1975 and 1980, has a record of 236-209 with the Ems.

Like Riddoch, Luby had three stints as Ems manager and compiled a 235-203 record with the Ems in 1957-58, 1966, and 1974, and he also served as general manager of the team. Some of Luby's local family members are planning to be at tonight's game to honor Riddoch.

"Hugh Luby is the one that brought organized baseball other than independent leagues here to Eugene and he is someone that I have a lot of respect for," Riddoch said. "I remember going to Luby's Sporting Goods and he had his mobile home in the back and we'd have lunch together. He is baseball in Eugene and I'm honored to be a part of what he started here. It is his tribute, we wouldn't be here if it wasn't for Hugh Luby."

Eugene (9-5) broke a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the sixth after Danny Payne led off with a single, marking the 90th straight game he has reached base safely dating back to his college career at Georgia Tech. Payne has reached safely in all 13 games of his pro career after doing so in his final 77 games with the Yellow Jackets.

Payne advanced to second when Shane Buschini grounded out and then Justin Baum hit a two-out double that scored Payne to put the Ems ahead 3-2.

Kulbacki hit his home run in the bottom of the third inning but had to wait a few moments before being credited with his first pro homer.

Kulbacki's home run, which gave Eugene a 2-1 lead, hit next to one of the lights on the scoreboard before landing back on the field. The scoreboard is set behind the wall and any ball that hits it is a home run.

"I wasn't sure, I saw the ball hit off the wall and figured it hit the top and I kept on running," Kulbacki said. "I got to second and when I saw Rid come out to talk about it, I figured I might have a chance. It was pretty cool."

Yakima tied the game 2-2 in the top of the fourth when Ramon Ramirez singled and later scored on a ground out by Joe Ayers.

Notes: Matt Teague (0-0) will start tonight for the Ems against Yakima's Ian Harrington (0-2). ... About 100 general admission tickets remain for the July 4th game and they will go on sale at 9 a.m. today at the Ems office. ... Infielder Eric Sogard and pitcher Robert Woodard joined the Ems after playing in the College World Series. Sogard was drafted in the second round by San Diego last month after hitting .399 for Arizona State. Woodard was a 20th-round selection who went 10-2 with a 3.02 ERA at North Carolina. Pitcher Brandon Gomes was promoted to long-season Single-A Fort Wayne.