Volcanoes Take Series Victory over Everett
July 24, 2016 - Northwest League (NWL1)
Salem-Keizer Volcanoes News Release
KEIZER, Oregon - After the first three games of the five game series featured plenty of fireworks at the plate - and even some after Friday's game - the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes (16-20) and the Everett AquaSox (17-19) settled into a more conventional pitchers' duel Sunday evening, with SK holding on to get a 3-1 victory.
Despite only pushing three base runners across the plate, the Volcanoes offense still managed to chase AquaSox starting pitcher Tim Viehoff out after just four innings. The left-hander coming in had the second lowest earned run average on the team at just 2.00, but was charged for all three runs.
Salem-Keizer got things started in the home half of the third after catcher Zack Bowers walked and second baseman Kevin Rivera ripped a triple down the right field line to bring home the first run of the ball game. The three-bagger was the eighth of the season for the Volcanoes and the second for Rivera.
Two batters later, third baseman Manuel Geraldo hit into a fielder's choice that brought home Rivera to give Salem-Keizer a two-run advantage.
They would extend that lead an inning later off the bat of Heath Quinn, as he belted a no doubt solo home run to left field to give his team a 3-0 lead. It was Quinn's second long ball of the season as the display of power complimented his average, now up to .330 and good for third highest in the Northwest League.
The AquaSox did manage to scrape one run across in the sixth inning, but for the majority of the night, Volcanoes pitching dominated an offense that had scored a total of 22 runs through the first three games of the series.
Starting pitcher Melvin Adon pitched effectively, utilizing his low-to-mid 90's fastball - even reaching 97 miles per hour - to mow through the Everett lineup. He only allowed one earned run through his five and two thirds innings of work, striking out five and, at one point, retiring seven batters in a row from the fourth through the sixth innings.
With Adon set up for his first win of the season, the pitching combination of Nolan Riggs and closer Patrick Ruotolo closed the door through the final three and a third frames. Riggs tossed two and a third shutout innings and Ruotolo worked the ninth, capturing his first save of the season.
However, the Volcanoes' pitchers got plenty of help from their defense, with multiple defensive highlights, helping the Salem-Keizer staff work out of trouble. Geraldo dove and snagged a line drive to end Everett's third inning and shortstop Ryan Howard made a stellar on-the-run throw near the brim of the infield grass to take away a would-be base runner to close the top of the fifth.
The biggest threat from the AquaSox was also foiled by the Volcanoes' defense in the seventh inning, coming after two runners reached with no outs. Bowers back-picked a runner at second base for the first out and then one pitch later, a line drive was flagged down by first baseman Ryan Kirby, with his momentum carrying him to the first base bag to complete the double play and effectively end Everett's final chance.
The final game of the series for both sides will come tomorrow night, July 25, at Volcanoes Stadium, with Salem-Keizer going for its fourth victory in this series. Game time is set for 7:05 p.m. PT. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.
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Northwest League Stories from July 24, 2016
- Volcanoes Take Series Victory over Everett - Salem-Keizer Volcanoes
- Canadians Final Drop Fourth Straight to Emeralds - Vancouver Canadians
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- Tri-City Loses Early Lead and Falls to the Hillsboro in Game Three - Tri-City Dust Devils
- Volcanoes Leave 11 on Base in 8-5 Loss - Salem-Keizer Volcanoes
- Seven-Run Second Inning Sinks Canadians - Vancouver Canadians
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