Volcanoes Eviscerated by Hops
July 7, 2017 - Northwest League (NWL1)
Salem-Keizer Volcanoes News Release
KEIZER, Ore. - The Volcanoes were cratered by the Hillsboro Hops 17-2 on July 5 at Volcanoes Stadium. Hillsboro continued the Fourth of July fireworks by racking up a franchise-record 25 hits en route to a near 20-run barrage.
After a scoreless affair through the first two frames of play, the Hops busted open the scoring with a four-spot in the top of the third inning.
Shortstop Yan Sanchez led off the inning by scalding a shot over the left center field wall for a solo tater and a 1-0 lead for Hillsboro. Sanchez would ultimately hit for the cycle on the night, the first in Hops history. Later in the inning, third baseman Drew Ellis lined a base hit to left field, which scored another run for a 2-0 advantage.
Catcher Daulton Varsho followed suit with a liner to left that loaded the bases for the Hops. After Volcanoes right handed starting pitcher Alejandro De La Rosa whiffed center fielder Tra'mayne Holmes, Hops second baseman Camden Duzenack chopped a two-run single through the left infield gap to elevate the lead to 4-0.
The Volcanoes showed a pulse when they chalked up their first run of the ballgame in the bottom of the fourth inning. Second baseman Orlando Garcia pulled a fly ball down the left field line that appeared to be hooking foul, but with the friendly wind blowing out from left the ball swerved back into fair territory and over the wall for the second baseman's first professional long ball.
However, the Hops squelched any momentum the Volcanoes gained from the previous inning immediately with three runs in the top of the fifth frame off of right-handed reliever John Timmins, which widened the gap to 7-1.
In the top of the sixth, following a triple by right fielder Bryan Araiza, designated hitter Eudy Ramos demolished a no-doubter over the left center wall off of Timmins, extending the Hops' lead to 8-1. Hillsboro tacked on another to elongate its already commanding lead to 9-1.
Salem-Keizer's bullpen continued to hemorrhage runs in the top half of the seventh when Hillsboro's freight train of an offense posted another four-run inning to balloon the lead to 13-1.
The drubbing was capped off in the top of the ninth inning when infielder A.J. Ramirez took the bump for mop-up duty. Ramirez served up four more runs, including a two-run bomb off of the lumber of Varsho that was launched so far over the right field wall that the ball must have been ticketed for Seattle.
The Volcanoes mustered a run in the bottom of the ninth to bring the score to 17-2, before the Hops wrapped up their walk in the park.
Salem-Keizer will travel tomorrow to duke it out against the Everett AquaSox in a four-game set at Everett Memorial Stadium. First pitch will be at 7:05 p.m. Volcanoes southpaw starting hurler Alex Bostic (0-1, 4.91 ERA) will duel with fellow southpaw Michael Suarez (2-1, 5.17 ERA) and try to steer Salem-Keizer back on the winning track.
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Northwest League Stories from July 7, 2017
- Frogs Fall in Volcanic Eruption - Everett AquaSox
- Volcanoes Eviscerated by Hops - Salem-Keizer Volcanoes
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