Miller's Pitching, Season-High Hits Win Series
July 28, 2014 - Northwest League (NWL1)
Salem-Keizer Volcanoes News Release
KEIZER, Ore. - The Volcanoes didn't take batting practice prior to Sunday evening's game versus Eugene, but they definitely got their swings in en route to a 9-1 blowout victory in the series opener.
Salem-Keizer recorded a season-high hit total of 17 including at least one hit from everyone in the lineup and five multi-hit efforts.
One of the multi-hit performances came from newcomer Austin Slater - the Giants 2014 8th Rounder - who tallied three hits, two RBIs, and a stolen base in his Volcanoes debut. Skyler Ewing was also smacking the ball all over the park, finishing with four hits including a pair of doubles. Seth Harrison finished the night with two hits - one a triple - and three RBIs in his best game as a Volcano.
Much like the Salem-Keizer offense put their best offensive display of the season together, starter Ethan Miller was at his best in the win. Miller tossed a career-high eight innings of one-run baseball, scattering five hits while striking out five. The right-hander had not gone longer than 6.0 innings in his two-year career.
Miller's one trouble spot came in the top of the second inning, when he allowed a solo home run to Yale Rosen, as Eugene jumped out to a 1-0 lead.
Salem-Keizer did not allow the Emeralds' lead to stand for long knotting the score in the home-half of the second. Skyler Ewing led off the frame with a double and came into score on an RBI ground out by Will Callaway.
Eugene starter Zech Lemond exited with a 1-1 tie intact after four complete innings. The Volcanoes had a field day with the Emeralds' bullpen, scoring eight runs in the fifth through eighth innings.
Harrison knocked in Tyler Hollick on an RBI single to put the Volcanoes in front 2-1 in the fifth.
In the sixth inning, Callaway smashed a two-run homer to left-center field to extend Salem-Keizer's lead to 4-1. The Volcanoes did not stop there, as Harrison plated two runs on his second career triple - first as a member of Salem-Keizer.
Insurance runs were added in the seventh on an RBI single by Slater and in the eighth off of another RBI single by Slater and a wild pitch.
The Volcanoes improved to 5-1 in first half play, continuing to pace the Northwest League South Division and the Northwest League as a whole.
Up Next: Salem-Keizer sends Jason Forjet (3-0, 3.63) to the mound against Walker Weickel (0-0, 0.00) in the middle game of the three-game divisional series. First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m. on Kid's Night at Volcanoes Stadium.
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Northwest League Stories from July 28, 2014
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- Miller's Pitching, Season-High Hits Win Series - Salem-Keizer Volcanoes
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