Hops Escape with 5-4 Win
August 11, 2015 - Northwest League (NWL1)
Salem-Keizer Volcanoes News Release
C.J. Hinojosa of the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes
(Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, Credit: Mason Shoultz)
Salem-Keizer fought back from a four-run, first-inning deficit Monday night but it wasn't enough as the Volcanoes fell 5-4 to the Hillsboro Hops at Volcanoes Stadium.
Monday's pitching matchup featured two Northwest League All-Stars in Drew Leenhouts and Cody Reed, both of whom came into the contest with ERAs under 3.00. The game instead played out like an offensive shootout early on, with both clubs combing for nine runs on 14 hits through three innings of play.
Volcanoes starter Drew Leenhouts had been a workhorse for Salem-Keizer this season, tossing 49 2/3 innings - the sixth most in the league. Leenhouts broke from that narrative almost immediately Monday night as he allowed four runs before departing after just 2/3 of an inning. The Hops sent nine men to the plate and tallied five hits, pushing Hillsboro out in front, 4-0.
Salem-Keizer scratched across a run the following half inning before tying the game in the second. Fernando Pujadas doubled to lead off the frame before C.J. Hinojosa belted a two-run home run to left, cutting the deficit to just a single run. Julio Pena later blasted a solo homer, knotting up the score at 4-4.
The tie was short lived, as Hillsboro reclaimed the lead the very next half inning. Stephen Dezzi drew a walk to lead off the inning before Nate Irving singled to left, placing men at the corners with nobody out. Reliever Jarret Leverett (0-2, 4.24 ERA) then induced a groundball double play from Jake Peevyhouse but it scored Dezzi, putting Hillsboro back in front.
The Volcanoes looked poised to at least tie the game when Hinojosa tripled to begin the sixth, but reliever Kirby Bellow struck out the next three batters he faced to negate the threat. Salem-Keizer failed to place a runner at third throughout the remainder of the contest as the Hillsboro bullpen secured the victory.
Will Landsheft (2-2, 5.12 ERA), who tossed two innings in relief, picked up the win for Hillsboro.
Player of the Game: C.J. Hinojosa fell just a double shy of the cycle, going 3-for-4 with a two-run home run and a triple.
Up Next: The Volcanoes wrap up their series with the Hillsboro Hops Tuesday night. Nolan Riggs (2-1, 2.65 ERA) will start for Salem-Keizer. Tyler Mark (1-0, 0.90 ERA) will start for Hillsboro. First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m.
Images from this story
 C.J. Hinojosa of the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes (Mason Shoultz) |
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