Sports

Hops take two out of three from Volcanoes

Volcanoes first baseman Beicker Mendoza makes a tough snag in foul territory in a game against the Eugene Emeralds on Thursday, July 11. (KEIZERTIMES/Matt Rawlings).

The Volcanoes opened a three-game series in Hillsboro on Sunday, July 14 with a 7-3 loss to the Hops.

Salem-Keizer had a 1-0 lead for the first inning and a half. With two out in the first, Franklin Labour hit the ball over the right field fence for his 12th home run of the season. Then, in the bottom of the second, starting pitcher Alex Dubord yielded two runs to Hillsboro, and the Volcanoes never caught up.

Tristin English started a two-run rally in the second with a one-out single to center field. Jesus Marriaga singled to right, moving English to second. Ricky Martinez singled to right, driving English in and moving Marriaga to third. Nick Dalesandro scored Marriaga with a sacrifice fly.

In the Hops third, Nick Grande led off by reaching first base on a throwing error by shortstop Tyler Fitzgerald. Jorge Barrosa sent him home with a triple to left center. Barrosa later scored when Andy Yerzy grounded into a double play. 

Two more Hillsboro runs came in the fourth after Chris Roberts relieved Dubord. Marriaga singled and reached third on a double by Martinez. Dalesandro drove in both with a single to center.

In the Volcano fifth, Yorlis Rodriguez scored on a groundout by Fitzgerald.

Travis Perry took the mound at the start of the Hillsboro fifth and finished the game. He gave up one more run as Marriaga scored on a Dalesandro single to center.

Deyni Olivero was the starting and winning pitcher with a 4-1 record. He went 5.2 innings and was succeeded in order by Yaramil Hiraldo, Jacob Stevens and Bryan Menendez.

Ricardo Genoves provided the last run of the game. Facing Menendez in the ninth, he hit his seventh home run of the season over the right field fence.

Dubord was handed his second loss of the season. 

Wednesday, July 10: Volcanoes 6, Eugene 5

A walk-off sacrifice fly by Ricardo Genoves helped Salem-Keizer take down Eugene in the series opener.

The Emeralds had a 1-0 lead through four innings when Salem-Keizer starter Kervin Castro left the game. Eugene added a run in the top of the fifth, but the Volcanoes scored four times in the bottom of the frame.

With Kwan Adkins and Tyler Fitzgerald on base, Sean Roby singled Adkins home. Genoves then hit a three-run home run, putting the Volcanoes on top 4-2.

Eugene tied the score in the eighth when Nelson Maldonado singled Chase Strumpf and Zac Taylor home. In the ninth, a sacrifice fly by Yonathan Perlaza put the Emeralds back ahead.

In the Volcano ninth, Tyler Fitzgerald singled, reached second base on a single by Sean Roby and scored as Franklin Labour singled. Roby reached third on the play and Genoves drove him in.

Trevor Horn got the win for a 2-2 record. John Pomeroy took his first loss against no wins.

Thursday, July 11: Eugene 5, Volcanoes 4

Eugene stayed ahead from start to finish in this one to even up the series with the Volcanoes. 

The Emeralds led 5-0 through the top of the seventh. Salem-Keizer answered with two in the bottom of the inning with a Franklin Labour single that scored Yorlis Rodriguez and Simon Whiteman.

In the Volcano eighth, Armani Smith hit a triple that drove in Tyler Fitzgerald. The last run came in the bottom of the ninth when Fitzgerald doubled, driving in Kwan Adkins.

Chris Kachmar was the winning pitcher in relief, winning his first game against no losses. Riley McCauley had his fourth save. The loss went to starter Jake Lopez, 1-2.

Friday, July 12: Volcanoes 11, Eugene 8

This offensive encounter was another comeback win for Salem-Keizer, who trailed Eugene 6-1 at one point in the contest. 

A two-run home run by the Emeralds’ Nelson Maldonado in the first inning started the visitors’ scoring. Eugene also added four runs in the top of the second. After scoring one in the bottom of the first, the Volcanoes responded with three runs in the second, the biggest blow being a two-run double by Alex Canario.

The Volcanoes scored five times in the fifth. Simon Whiteman walked with the bases loaded, scoring Armani Smith. Sean Roby doubled, driving in Brandon Martorano, Jeff Houghtby and Whiteman. Franklin Labour doubled Whiteman home.

In the Salem-Keizer sixth, a triple by Tyler Flores drove in Canario. In the seventh, Ricardo Genoves scored Labour with a double.

Tyler Schimpf was the winning pitcher in relief with a 2-0 record. Bryan King took the loss at 0-1.

Saturday, July 13: Eugene 12, Volcanoes 1

An 18-hit attack, helped by four Salem-Keizer errors, gave the Emeralds a split in this series.

Eugene scored in seven of the innings, the biggest of which was the three-run fifth. Nelson Maldonado drove Chase Strumpf in with a single, Jake Slaughter singled Zac Taylor home and Maldonado scored on a double play. Slaughter had five of the Emeralds’ hits.

The Volcanoes’ one run came in the third. Sean Roby singled, scoring Jeff Houghtby.

Yunior Perez, Eugene’s starter, was the winning pitcher with his first win against three losses. Jesus Ozoria started for the Volcanoes and had his first loss after three wins.

Monday, July 15: Hillsboro 4, Volcanoes 3

The Volcanoes led or were tied in this one until the bottom of the fifth inning, when the Hops scored two runs. They led the rest of the way.

In the first, Salem-Keizer’s Ricardo Genoves doubled to drive in Franklin Labour. Then Tyler Fitzgerald singled Genoves home.

Hillsboro tied the score in the second. A triple by Tristan English scored Kristian Robinson. English later scored on a groundout.

In the Volcano fifth, Simon Whiteman scored on a double by Sean Roby. The Hops came back with two runs in that inning, with a double by Daniel Wasinger driving in Jesus Marriaga and Ricky Martinez.

Starter Kervin Castro went six innings and had six strikeouts but took the loss at 2-2. Erin Baldwin was the winning pitcher in relief with a 1-1 record.

Tuesday, July 16: Volcanoes 8, Hillsboro 2

Salem-Keizer had a shutout going until the ninth inning, when the Hops loaded the bases and scored two runs.

Jake Lopez was the starting and winning pitcher, putting his record at 2-2 in his five innings with four strikeouts. Trevor Horn pitched the next three innings and Abel Adames yielded both Hillsboro runs in the ninth before Israel Cruz got the final out.

Franklin Labour hit his league-leading 13th home run in the first with the bases empty. 

The two big Volcano innings were the second and the fifth, where the Volcanoes scored three runs in each frame. In the third, Beicker Mendoza doubled Tyler Fitzgerald and Alex Canario home. Mendoza eventually scored on a double by Brandon Martorano.

In the fifth, Fitzgerald drove in Labour with a double, Ricardo Genoves scored on a groundout and Fitzgerald scored on a wild pitch.

Andrew Saalfrank, Hillsboro’s starter, took the loss at 0-1.