Salem-Keizer catcher Brandon Martorano flexes with Kwan Atkins after hitting a solo home run in the Volcanoes 11-2 victory over Tri-City on Monday, July 29.
An 11-2 victory opened the Volcanoes’ home series with the Tri-City Dust Devils on Monday, July 29.
After Salem-Keizer scored a run in the first inning and one in the second, the visiting Dust Devils tied the score in the top of the fourth. But Salem-Keizer scored seven runs in the fifth inning to break the game wide open.
The first run of the game came on a solo home run by Alex Canario over the right field fence. In the second inning, Beicker Mendoza was hit by a pitch from Connor Lehman and Jeff Houghtby followed with a double to right. A throwing error by right fielder Matthew Acosta allowed Mendoza to score.
In the Tri-City fourth, starting pitcher Conner Nurse walked Jonny Homza and Carlos Luis homered over the right field wall to tie the score.
The Volcanoes added a run in the bottom of the fourth. Jason Reynolds had just taken over the mound, and Brandon Martorano led off with a homer to right field.
Nurse went 4.2 innings before Jordan Scott replaced him and retired the final batter of the top of the fifth.
Hunter Bishop started the fifth-inning rally with an infield single. He stole second base and a wild pitch moved him to second. Canario walked and Franklin Labour was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Tyler Fitzgerald doubled to left, driving in Bishop and Canario and moving Labour to third base. After striking out Martorano on a 3-2 pitch, Reynolds walked Kwan Adkins and Labour scored on a passed ball.
Felix Minjares came in to pitch. Mendoza singled to right center, scoring Fitzgerald. Houghtby homered to right center, driving in Adkins and Mendoza.
In the Volcano eighth, Houghtby hit a one-out infield single. He moved to second as Carter Aldrete walked, and the runners advanced on a wild pitch by Jake Sims.
Houghtby went 3-for-4, driving in three runs and scoring two.
Scott won his first game against no losses. Reynolds was the losing pitcher at 1-3.
“The guys made good swing decisions and hit the pitches,” Volcano manager Mark Hallberg said.
The attendance was 1,606.
Wednesday, July 24: Hillsboro 4, Volcanoes 1
Salem-Keizer had a 1-0 lead halfway through this second game of a road series until Hillsboro scored twice in the bottom of the fifth inning.
The Hops held the Volcanoes to six hits and had nine themselves, including Kristian Robinson’s ninth home run of the season, a solo shot in the seventh.
The Volcanoes’ one run came in the third inning, when a single by Yorlis Rodriguez sent Harrison Freed home.
Deyni Olivero was the winning pitcher in relief with a 5-1 record. Bryan Menendez had his seventh save. Conner Nurse, who started for the Volcanoes, lost his first game against no wins.
Thursday, July 25: Volcanoes 2, Hillsboro 0
This shutout in the last game of a three-game series kept the Volcanoes from getting swept.
Travis Perry, Salem-Keizer’s starter, went six innings with five strikeouts to get his third victory against no losses. It was the first time he had won a game as a starter. Cooper Casad pitched the next two innings, and Israel Cruz, pitching the ninth, had his third save.
The first run came in the fourth inning as Brandon Martorano singled Logan Wyatt home. Wyatt scored the other run in sixth on a single by Armani Smith.
Luis Frias was the losing pitcher with a 2-3 record.
Friday, July 26: Volcanoes 3, Eugene 2
Kervin Castro went six innings to win his third game against two losses in Salem-Keizer’s series opener against Eugene.
Castro, who gave up both of Eugene’s runs, had five strikeouts and left the game with a 2.68 ERA. Tyler Schimpf had his first save.
The Emeralds scored both their runs in the fourth inning as Grayson Byrd hit a home run with Nelson Maldonado on base. The Volcanoes answered in their half of the fifth with all three of their runs. Tyler Fitzgerald doubled to drive in Jeff Houghtby and Kwan Adkins.
Maiken Aguiar took the loss at 1-1.
Saturday, July 27: Eugene 4, Volcanoes 3
The Volcanoes couldn’t quite turn this one around.
After the Emeralds scored twice in the first inning and once in the fourth, Salem-Keizer got two runs in the fifth. Eugene scored once in the sixth for a 4-2 lead, and the Volcanoes could come up with only one run in the ninth.
The Emeralds outhit their hosts 13-7, with Pedro Martinez getting four hits and Luis Vasquez three. Ricardo Genoves, who threw out three base runners from his catcher position, and Jeff Houghtby, had two hits each for the Volcanoes.
Zach Mort was the winning pitcher in relief for a 2-3 record, and Fauris Guerrero got his first save. Jacob Lopez, the Volcanoes’ starter, took the loss at 2-3.
Sunday, July 28: Volcanoes 8, Eugene 1
Kwan Adkins was the hero of this rubber game of Salem-Keizer’s home series with Eugene.
The left fielder went 3-for-4 including his second home run of the season, driving in four runs and scoring two. He also stole his seventh base of the season.
Next in importance was starting pitcher Jesus Ozorio, who went 5.2 innings, allowing the one run but striking out four for his fourth win against two losses. Eduarniel Nunez, who started for the Emeralds, was the losing pitcher with a 1-3 record.
The Volcanoes had another home run, a solo shot by new second baseman Carter Aldrete. He is a nephew of Mike Aldrete, a former utility outfielder-first baseman who played for several major league teams including the San Francisco Giants and is now first base coach for the Oakland Athletics.
Another Volcano newcomer, Jorge Labrador, pitched the ninth inning.
Tuesday, July 30: Volcanoes 5, Tri-City 3
A bases-loaded double by Carter Aldrete in the eighth inning turned this game around for the Volcanoes.
With the Dust Devils ahead 3-2 in the bottom of the inning, Logan Wyatt, Armani Smith, and Brandon Martorano were on base when Aldrete came to the plate. He drove them all across and went to third base on a throw from the outfield.
Cooper Casad, pitching in relief, won his first game of the season against one loss. Tyler Schimpf, who pitched the ninth, got his second save.
Each team had six hits, with Tri-City’s Reinaldo Ilarraza hitting the only home run, but the Volcanoes put theirs together when it mattered.
