Sports

Volcanoes take series opener from Spokane

Volcanoes pitcher Jesus Ozoria got his second victory of the season on Thursday, June 27 against the Hillsboro Hops (KEIZERTIMES/Dee Moore).

The Volcanoes invaded Spokane on Monday, July 1, starting a three-game series with a 7-5 win over an Indians team that was leading the Northwest League in batting and slugging averages, runs, and runs batted in.

Leading the Salem-Keizer attack were Franklin Labour, who hit two solo home runs, and newcomer Brandon Martorano, who hit three singles and scored a run. Luis Moreno, despite yielding five runs in his five innings as a starter, struck out six and got the win for a 2-0 record. Ben Madison had his first save.

The Indians started the scoring with two first-inning runs. Ryan Anderson struck out but reached first base after catcher Martorano dropped the third strike. Tanner Gardner got Anderson home with a triple to center field and scored on a ground out by Tyler Ricumstrict.

Labour led off the Volcano second with his first homer of the game. Harrison Freed doubled to left center and went to third base on an error that put Martorano on first. Tyler Flores walked to load the bases, and a walk to Simon Whiteman sent Freed home.

Juan Castillo relieved starter Zak Kent and walked Whiteman to force Freed home. Roby walked, forcing Martorano home. Those three runs caused by bases on balls gave the Volcanoes a 3-2 lead.

In the bottom of the second, Jonah McReynolds singled to left and went to third as Starling Joseph doubled to left. Blaine Crim drove in McReynolds with a ground out, and another ground out by Christian Inoa scored Joseph. Spokane had a 4-3 lead.

Labour’s second homer, his seventh of the season, led off the Salem-Keizer third to tie the score.

John Matthews, who was to become the losing pitcher with an 0-1 record, took the mound in the fourth. He hit newcomer Alex Canario, who went to third as Sean Roby singled to right center. Freed doubled to left, driving in Canario and Roby. Salem-Keizer was ahead 6-4. Nick Laio came in to pitch with two out and struck out Martorano.

Spokane cut the Volcano lead in the fourth with a solo homer by David Garcia.

In the top of the eighth, Whiteman walked and reached second on his seventh steal of the season. He scored the last run of the game as second baseman Kenen Irizarry missed a throw, with the ball going into right field.

Madison pitched the eighth and ninth innings to get the save.

Wednesday, June 26: Volcanoes 5, Hillsboro 3

This Salem-Keizer comeback win tied the Volcanoes with the Hillsboro visitors for the top of the Southern Division.

The Hops scored two runs in the first inning and one in the second before the Volcanoes got their first run in the third. Salem-Keizer tied the score with two runs in the sixth and added a run in the seventh and again in the eighth.

Volcanoes newcomer Harrison Freed provided the sixth inning runs by hitting a home run with Sean Roby on base. Roby, Franklin Labour, and Tyler Flores had two hits each for Salem-Keizer. The Volcanoes outhit the Hops 9-6, and Hillsboro made three errors to none for Salem-Keizer.

Yoel Veras was the winning pitcher in relief with a 1-0 record. Israel Cruz had his second save. The loss went to reliever Erin Baldwin for a record of 0-1.

Thursday, June 27: Volcanoes 4, Hillsboro 2

The Volcanoes not only won the three-game series with this one, but also gained sole possession of first place in the division.

Salem-Keizer led all the way, with starting pitcher Jesus Ozoria getting his second win against no losses and closer Bryce Tucker getting into the save column. Adrian Del Moral, who started for the Hops, took the loss for a 1-1 record.

The biggest inning for the Volcanoes was the two-run first. A single by Ricardo Genoves drove in Harrison Freed and Franklin Labour. In the second, Sean Roby scored as Genoves grounded out. Freed’s home run in the fifth, his second, provided the fourth run.

In the Hillsboro sixth, Steven Leyton singled David Garza home and then eventually scored on a single by Tristin English.

Friday, June 28: Boise 7, Volcanoes 6 (10 innings)

It took 10 innings for the Boise hosts to win their first 2019 game against Salem-Keizer — the Volcanoes swept a three-game series with the Hawks to open the season.

The Volcanoes were trailing 3-1 in the eighth inning when they scored their first run as an error got Franklin Labour home. The Hawks made it tougher in the bottom of the eighth, with Daniel Cope singling Aaron Schunk home and a double by Zach Hall scoring Yorvis Torrealba.

In the top of the ninth, Ricardo Genoves hit a home run with Harrison Freed and Labour on base. Then Tyler Flores homered to put the Volcanoes ahead by a run. Schunk responded by driving in Bladimir Restituyo with a double to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth.

Reliever Joel Condreay kept the Volcanoes from scoring in the 10th and became the winning pitcher at 1-1. In the Boise 10th, Vladimir Dilone hit a sacrifice fly to score Shael Mendoza. Trevor Horn took the loss for an 0-2 record.

Saturday, June 29: Boise 4, Volcanoes 2

This game took the Hawks two-thirds of the way to avenging the Volcanoes’ season-opening sweep.

Boise got all the runs it needed (three) in the first inning. Bladimir Restituyo scored on a sacrifice fly by Yorvis Torrealba, and a double by Daniel Cope drove in Joe Aielts and Aaron Schunk.

Kwan Adkins scored Salem-Keizer’s first run on a third-inning groundout by Sean Roby. Tyler Plantier widened Boise’s lead with a solo home run in the fourth.

Ricardo Genoves doubled Franklin Labour home in the sixth for the final run of the game for Salem-Keizer.

Kervin Castro started for the Volcanoes and became the losing pitcher at 1-1 but came out with a 2.70 earned run average. Jesse Stinnett was the winning pitcher in relief with a 2-0 record and a 1.13 ERA.

Sunday, June 30: Volcanoes 11, Boise 9

The Volcanoes avoided a sweep with this victory over the hard-fighting Boise Hawks.

Boise had a 3-0 lead going into the fourth inning when Salem-Keizer went ahead with a four-run fifth. Six more Volcano runs came in the sixth and one more in the eighth, but the Hawks added three in the eighth and two in the ninth.

Ricardo Genoves had three hits for the Volcanoes, including his first triple. Sean Roby, Yorlis Rodriguez, and Kwan Adkins had two each. Simon Whiteman hit a three-run double in the fifth.

Tyler Schimpf was the winning pitcher in relief of starter Jacob Lopez, with a 1-0 record. Bryce Tucker got his second save. Rayne Supple, also in relief, took the loss (0-1).