Blackburn, Hawks Throw Shutout in Playoff Opener
Published on September 4, 2013 under Northwest League (NWL1)
Boise Hawks News Release
BOISE, Idaho - Paul Blackburn and Zack Godley combined on a three-hit shutout as the Boise Hawks opened the Northwest League South Divisional Series with a 3-0 victory over the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes at Memorial Stadium.
Blackburn went seven innings, allowing just two singles, and tied a career-high with eight strikeouts, giving Boise the 1-0 lead in the Best-of-3 series to determine a berth in the NWL Championship Series.
The Hawks jumped out to a 2-0 lead four pitches into the game. Kevin Encarnacion hit Chase Johnson's first pitch of the game into right for a single, with Danny Lockhart hitting a 1-0 pitch into the right field corner for a double - with Encarnacion scoring and Lockhart moving to third on a bobble by Brian Ragira. Yasiel Balaguert lined the next pitch to right for a sacrifice fly to extend the lead.
S-K had their lone chance against Blackburn in the second, as Tyler Horan and Leo Rojas lined back-to-back singles with one out, but Blake Miller grounded into an inning ending double-play to end the threat. The righty retired the final 16 men he faced on the night.
Boise got an insurance run in the seventh, as Balaguert singled home Encarnacion from third. Godley came in from the bullpen and worked around a walk and single in his two innings of work, fanning three, for his first professional save.
Encarnacion went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and Balaguert went 3-for-3 with two RBI in the win.
Game 2 is tomorrow night in Keizer, Ore., with Duane Underwood meeting Chris Johnson at 7:35 p.m. - live on 1350 KTIK-AM.
NOTES: The seven innings by Blackburn was the longest outing of 2013 by a Hawks pitcher and the longest since Felix Pena went seven innings in a 3-2 win over Yakima in Game 3 of the 2012 East Divisional Series...it was the third time this year Blackburn fanned eight men in a game...Encarnacion is now 21-for-41 this season against S-K...Johnson was solid for the Volcanoes, going five innings, allowing an earned run on six hits with six strikeouts in the loss.
Northwest League Stories from September 4, 2013
- L.B. Danztler Named NWL Most Valuable Player - Vancouver Canadians
- Hawks Take Game One 3-0, Volcanoes on the Ropes - Salem-Keizer Volcanoes
- Vancouver Tops AquaSox in Playoff Opener - Vancouver Canadians
- Blackburn, Hawks Throw Shutout in Playoff Opener - Boise Hawks
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