Volcanoes Unable to Salvage Finale in Hillsboro
July 1, 2016 - Northwest League (NWL1)
Salem-Keizer Volcanoes News Release
HILLSBORO, Oregon - The Volcanoes fell victim to the Hops 8-2 in the finale of a three-game series on Thursday night, completing the sweep of Salem-Keizer. Despite the Volcanoes' offense recording a hit from every player in the lineup, a barrage of runs in the fifth and sixth innings by Hillsboro equaled an insurmountable deficit for the Volcanoes to overcome.
At first it appeared that right-handed pitcher Melvin Adon had shook off his previous performance where he gave up seven earned runs. He started Thursday's game well, not allowing a single hit in the first four innings. But as the game wore on, Adon's inconsistency with pitch locations would eventually result in the downfall of his outing.
In the top of the second inning, Volcanoes designated hitter Leo Rojas led off with a ground-rule double over the right field fence. Rojas' hit was followed by a single from first baseman Ryan Kirby to center field, placing runners on first and third. Salem-Keizer veteran third baseman Chase Compton stepped up and lasered a line drive single just past the outstretched glove of Hops first baseman Justin Chibogu to put the Volcanoes on the board. After a strikeout of second baseman Kevin Rivera, Salem-Keizer center fielder Ashford Fulmer hit an RBI single just past diving Hops third baseman Josh Anderson. However, after the throw to home was off line, Compton was tagged out attempting to advance to third. This ended the inning and left the Volcanoes with just a two-spot on the scoreboard.
To lead off the fifth, Hops center fielder Marcus Wilson led off with a walk, followed by a single from left fielder Luis Veras. After a pop out by second baseman Manny Jefferson, shortstop Sergio Alcantara hit an infield single, scoring Wilson from third base for Hillsboro's first run of the game. Designated hitter Anfernee Grier proceeded to hit a chopping ball to Compton whose low throw to first baseman Ryan Kirby got away and allowed Veras to tie the game at two.
The sixth inning seemed to be just a continuation of the fifth for the Hillsboro offense. Anderson started with a hard-hit single to right field. The wheels began to fall off for Adon, as an untimely balk and wild pitch gave Anderson a free 180 feet. Lowery was able to knock him home with a single to left to give Hillsboro the lead. Chibogu put a big dent in Salem-Keizer's hopes of salvaging the final game of the series by crushing a home run to left-center field, scoring two more runs and granting Hillsboro a 5-2 lead.
After the Hops homer, Volcanoes manager Kyle Haines had seen enough of Adon. Salem-Keizer turned to its bullpen and pitcher Kendry Melo. Unfortunately for the Volcanoes, Melo was unable to mellow the Hops offense. Jefferson singled off of Melo before Alcantara doubled, providing another score for the Hops.
To lead off the seventh, Riley and Rivera singled in their best attempt to act as a catalyst for the cold Volcanoes attack. The inning looked more promosing when Fulmer drew a walk to load the bases. Shortstop Ryan Howard hit a chopper to third base where Anderson stepped on the bag and fired across the diamond get Howard on his way to first and ended the inning.
It got ugly in the eighth, as Hillsboro tacked on two more runs. Alcantara gave the Hops his third hit of the evening and was also able to steal second during the next at bat. Right fielder Jason Morozowski reached on an error, scoring Alcantara and extending the Hillsboro advantage.
The Volcanoes dropped all three games in the series against the Hillsboro Hops. Salem-Keizer will look to turn the page in the start of a new series on Friday night. The Volcanoes will travel to PK Park in Eugene for a meeting against the league-leading Emeralds with first pitch slated for 7:35 p.m.
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Northwest League Stories from July 1, 2016
- Dust Devils Slide into First Place After Win - Tri-City Dust Devils
- Hops Die with Their Boots in Boise - Hillsboro Hops
- Volcanoes Unable to Salvage Finale in Hillsboro - Salem-Keizer Volcanoes
- Late Inning Home Run Lifts Dust Devils over Canadians - Tri-City Dust Devils
- Hops Use Force to Sweep Series - Hillsboro Hops
- Tri-City Completes Sweep of Canadians with 4-3 Victory - Vancouver Canadians
- Indians Drop Series Finale to AquaSox 8-5 - Spokane Indians
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