Volcanoes Lose on Walk-Off
August 14, 2016 - Northwest League (NWL1)
Salem-Keizer Volcanoes News Release
EVERETT, Washington - The Everett AquaSox broke the Volcanoes' hearts on a two-out, two-run double down the left field line to win the game 6-5. After ending a five-game skid the night before, the Volcanoes hit for double digits again, but dropped the third game of the five-game series against the Everett AquaSox.
Early on it looked like it was going to be a long, high scoring affair between the two ball clubs, as six runs were scored between the two teams in the first two innings. Both starters settled down after the third inning and neither Raffi Vizcaino from the Volcanoes nor Brandon Miller from the AquaSox would give up another run on the night.
The Volcanoes started the game where they left off the night before: by scoring runs and pouncing quickly. Salem-Keizer slapped three hits in the first inning with third baseman Manuel Geraldo leading things off, though he got picked off at first. After singling two batters later with two outs, right fielder Heath Quinn then took second base on a wild pitch by Miller. Quinn scored from second base on a single off the wall in right field by left fielder Gio Brusa.
Everett erased the Volcanoes' 1-0 lead on a two-out double by right fielder David Greer, clearing the bases and scoring two runs to take a 2-1 lead.
The Everett lead did not last long as the Salem-Keizer loaded the bases after first baseman Ryan Kirby walked, second baseman Kevin Rivera extended his hitting streak to 10 games and Geraldo singled to fill the bases with two outs. Center fielder Bryan Reynolds' single to center gave the lead back to the Volcanoes and moved Geraldo to third base. Reynolds and Geraldo were stranded in the inning but not before the Volcanoes brought the score to 3-2.
The AquaSox made sure the Volcanoes did not pull away in the game, threatening early in the home half of the second inning. With one out and the bases loaded after three straight singles by the AquaSox, shortstop Donnie Walton grounded out to first baseman Ryan Kirby, allowing a run to cross and tie the game.
The score remained 3-3 until the bottom of the sixth inning when the AquaSox retook the lead when right fielder Dimas Ojeda hit a lead off home run to right field.
The Volcanoes were down to their last out when Brusa walked up to the plate. With a full count, and no one on base, Brusa started a rally by doing something less than exciting - he walked. Shortstop Ryan Howard would then swing at the first pitch and double to right field, and Brusa would be waved all the way around the bases to score from first base and tie game. Howard slid in to score on the next play when Kirby singled on a ball through the left side to take the lead.
The game ended the way it started - by trading runs. After Salem-Keizer took the lead with two outs in the top of the ninth, Everett used a two-out double down the left field line to win the ball game. The walk-off hit came off the bat of third baseman Nick Zammerelli and scored the runner from second base easily. Walton, the runner from first, slid into home to win the game as the throw from left field was off-line.
Vizcaino, the Volcanoes' starter, lasted 5.0 innings, allowing six hits and three runs, all earned, before handing the ball over to John Timmins who tossed 3.0 innings and gave up just the home run in the sixth to Ojeda - one of four hits allowed by the reliever.
Salem-Keizer will look to even the series Monday night, August 15, at Everett Memorial Stadium. Victor Concepcion will get the start against the AquaSox, with first pitch slated for 7:05 p.m.
Northwest League Stories from August 14, 2016
- Volcanoes Lose on Walk-Off - Salem-Keizer Volcanoes
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- Salem-Keizer Shrugs off Early Deficit, Evens Series - Salem-Keizer Volcanoes
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