Salem-Keizer's Late Offense Falls Short
August 28, 2015 - Northwest League (NWL1)
Salem-Keizer Volcanoes News Release
Chris Shaw of the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes
(Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, Credit: Mason Shoultz)
Salem-Keizer scored three runs in the final third of the ballgame, but the AquaSox early offense was enough to send the Volcanoes to a loss in the series finale on Thursday night at Everett Memorial Stadium.
The Volcanoes (14-15, 34-33) fall another game behind the division-leading Eugene Emeralds (18-11, 35-32) and sit four games back with nine to play.
For the second time this season against Everett, Salem-Keizer starter Logan Webb (3-5, 5.06) couldn't make it out of the first inning. The AquaSox used three hits and two walks to score three runs off of the right-hander, prompting an early trip to the bullpen for manager Kyle Haines.
Nate Santiago limited Everett to just one hit over 2 1/3 innings of work before giving way to Rayan Hernandez, who allowed a single tally in three innings of work to put Everett out in front 4-0.
The Volcanoes didn't make things easy for the North Division-leading AquaSox, scoring three runs in the seventh and eighth innings.
After Steven Duggar led off the Volcanoes seventh with a single, Chris Shaw smashed a two-run home run, his second long ball in as many nights. Shaw's ninth round tripper of the season cut Everett's lead in half.
Armando Paniagua entered in relief of Hernandez for the home-half of the seventh, and kept the AquaSox off the board as Drew Jackson's attempt to score on a wild pitch was unsuccessful.
Trailing by just two heading to the eighth inning, Everett finally turned to its bullpen, and the Volcanoes posted a single tally to cut the AquaSox lead to one. The newest member of Salem-Keizer, Ashford Fulmer, was hit by a pitch to start the inning and eventually came into score on an RBI single from Duggar. The tying run was stranded at second base to end the frame in what would represent Salem-Keizer's final scoring threat.
Everett's Joe Pistorese spun a perfect ninth inning, notching his second save of the season.
The Volcanoes offense, ranking among the league leaders in nearly every category, was limited to single-digit hit totals for four of the five games in Everett.
Salem-Keizer has now dropped five series consecutively for the first time since 2012 when the Volcanoes lost seven consecutive series. Salem-Keizer's last series victory was a trip to Eugene immediately following the All-Star break.
Duggar, Shaw and Christian Lichtenthaler continued swinging hot bats of late with all three recording two-hit nights for Salem-Keizer. Duggar is 10 for his last 21, Shaw has had four multi-hit efforts in his last seven games and Lichtenthaler is batting .385 in his last seven games including three multi-hit efforts.
Player of the Game: Chris Shaw left the yard for the second time in as many games, slashing Everett's lead in half late in the game.
Salem-Keizer's final nine games - six of which will be played at Volcanoes Stadium - all are with opponents from the Southern Division, making its chance at a playoff berth very real.
Up Next: The Volcanoes return to Keizer for six games in seven days, including three with last-place Boise and three with first-place Eugene. First pitch for Friday's series opener with Boise is set for 6:35 p.m. with the Volcanoes Live pregame show hitting the airwaves at 6:05.
Images from this story
 Chris Shaw of the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes (Mason Shoultz) |
Northwest League Stories from August 28, 2015
- Hawks Erupt On Volcanoes For Fifth Straight Win - Boise Hawks
- C's draws to within three of division leading Everett after 8-7 extra inning win - Vancouver Canadians
- Indians Alter Saturday's Post-Game Events Due to Wildfires - Spokane Indians
- Eugene Emeralds Series Notes - Hillsboro August 28-30 - Eugene Emeralds
- Hops Head to Eugene for Crucial 3-Game Set - Hillsboro Hops
- Salem-Keizer's Late Offense Falls Short - Salem-Keizer Volcanoes
- Hops Fall on Controversial Call - Hillsboro Hops
- AquaSox Ride De Los Santos to Win - Everett AquaSox
- Eugene Emeralds Top Spokane on Portlandia Night - Eugene Emeralds
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
