Volcanoes Fall Short to Emeralds in Extra Inning
June 25, 2017 - Northwest League (NWL1)
Salem-Keizer Volcanoes News Release
KEIZER, Ore. - On a sweltering June 24 evening when Salem-Keizer celebrated "Bark In The Park" at Volcanoes Stadium, the Volcanoes offense showed a lot of bite early on against the Eugene Emeralds, but eventually fell in extra innings by the score of 7-6.
First baseman Ryan Kirby was the top dog offensively for the Volcanoes in the marathon contest. Kirby went 2-for-4 with two runs batted in and two walks.
The Emeralds struck first in the top of the first inning off of Volcanoes starting pitcher Julio Benitez . With two straight singles and a hit-by-pitch to load the bases with no outs, the Ems bats still appeared to be ravenous despite last night's 15-5 feasting.
Clean-up hitter Kwang-Min Kwan then clobbered a 3-2 offering from right-hander Benitez to deep center field, which hit off of the wall and scored two runners as Eugene led 2-0 within a blink of an eye.
However, Benitez was able to buckle down and maneuver his way out of further trouble by inducing a force out at home plate and a 4-6-3 double play to conclude the inning.
Despite the early deficit, the Volcanoes did not fret, seeing the Emeralds' two and raising them five in the bottom half. Salem-Keizer leadoff man Malique Ziegler squared up a perfect bunt single to the left side of the infield to kick-start the frame. After a single by second baseman Kevin Rivera, right fielder Juan Rodriguez followed up with a base knock himself, which scored Ziegler and cut the Emeralds' lead to 2-1.
Kirby gave Salem-Keizer a 3-2 advantage with an opposite field two-bagger into the gap in left field that scored Rivera and Rodriguez. The first baseman added another double to his line later in the contest for his sixth of the season, which is tops in the Northwest League.
The Volcanoes tacked on two more runs on throwing errors by Eugene second baseman Edgar Rondon and shortstop Aramis Ademan that first baseman Gustavo Polanco could not dig out of the dirt. By the end of the inning, Salem-Keizer matched the squad's run total from last game in one inning.
Eugene started a two-out rally in the ninth after back-and-forth scoring between the two clubs. Kwon stung a single to right field and eventually reached second base on a passed ball. Right fielder Jose Gonzalez the came through in the clutch and grounded a game-tying RBI single up the middle, which ultimately sent the game into extra innings.
In the top of the 12th, Eugene infielder Jhonny Bethencourt hit a blooper into shallow right-center field whereupon Ziegler laid out for the highlight-reel grab, but was unsuccessful. The ball rolled past Ziegler and Rodriguez as Bethencourt landed on third with a triple.
Emerald catcher Tyler Payne followed up with a deep fly ball to right field that was corralled by Rodriguez, allowing Bethencourt to score the go-ahead run for Eugene.
Salem-Keizer had a prime opportunity to tie or win the game in the bottom half of the 12th with runners on first and second with no outs, but the team was not able to cash in.
Right-handed relievers Michael Knighton and Luis Aquino earned the victory and the save for the Emeralds, respectively. Volcanoes southpaw Nick Deeg was charged with his first loss of the season, and righty Vic Black was handed the blown save.
The Volcanoes will look to salvage the rubber match against the Emeralds today at Volcanoes Stadium with first pitch slated for 6:35 p.m.
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Northwest League Stories from June 25, 2017
- Frogs Even Series at Tri-City with 4-3 Win - Everett AquaSox
- Volcanoes Fall Short to Emeralds in Extra Inning - Salem-Keizer Volcanoes
- Bats Bust out in Romp over Boise - Hillsboro Hops
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