Volcanoes Deal Dirty Dozens
June 20, 2016 - Northwest League (NWL1)
Hillsboro Hops News Release
For the third straight game, the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes collected a dozen hits and cruised to an 11-2 win at Volcanoes Stadium, winning the rubber match of the three-game opening series.
For the second consecutive night, the Volcanoes used a big inning to bust the game open, plating six runs six runs in the fifth.
The Hops had a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning after Billy Endris doubled to right center and scored on Marcus Wilson's RBI single to right field. Wilson would drive in both Hops runs, but by the time Jeff Smith scampered home in the seventh inning the Hops were staring at an 8-1 deficit.
Jefferson Mejia, coming off an erratic 2015 season in which he walked 62 batters in 82 2/3 innings, pitched solidly throughfour innings before going astray in the fifth. Salem-Keizer had taken a 2-1 lead in the fourth inning on a leadoff double by Zack Bowers and a sacrifice fly to center by Chase Compton. In the fifth, number nine hitter Kevin Rivera doubled down the first base line to lead off, the third Volcanoes double off Mejia. The 6-7 right hander retired Manuel Geraldo on a ground out and Juan Rodriguez lined out to third, but Leo Rojas blocked Mejia's escaped with a base hit to left field, scoring Rivera for a 3-1 lead. After Mejia plunked Bowers with a pitch, Chase Compton followed with a line drive over the glove of first baseman Justin Chigbogu for a 2 RBI double. Compton would score on a throwing error by shortstop Paxton De La Garza and that would be it for Mejia.
The Volcanoes greeted reliever Tucker Ward with two more base hits and two more runs and when the dust settled, ten men had come to the plate and the Hops were staring at a seven-run deficit.
Following Wilson's RBI single in the seventh, the Volcanoes tacked on three more runs on four hits and an error-thHops' fourth of the game-in the bottom of the inning.
Luke Lowery also had two hits for the Hops, who were out hit 12-8 in the game and 38-27 in the three-game series.
Cesar Yanez was awarded the win after tossing two innings of scoreless relief in back of starter Raffi Vizcaino. The Volcanoes' right hander, making his first start on U.S. soil after an 8-0 2015 season in the Dominican Summer League, gave up four hits and one earned runs with four strikeouts and two walks in three innings pitched.
The Hops will be at Ron Tonkin Field the next three nights to take on the Eugene Emeralds, whom the Hops last faced in the final regular season series in 2015, a home sweep. First pitch time is 7:05 p.m. Monday night with a fireworks show to follow. The game will be broadcast live on Rip City Radio 620 AM with the pregame show starting 6:30 p.m.
Northwest League Stories from June 20, 2016
- Mariners' Top Pick Highlights AquaSox 2016 Roster - Everett AquaSox
- 20 Years of Family Fun, Well Done - Salem-Keizer Volcanoes
- Tri-City Wins Rubber Match against Everett - Tri-City Dust Devils
- Volcanoes Blow out Hillsboro for Second Straight Night - Salem-Keizer Volcanoes
- Volcanoes Deal Dirty Dozens - Hillsboro Hops
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