Sports

Volcanoes split four-game set with Vancouver

Salem-Keizer pitcher Travis Perry got the no-decision against Boise on Thursday, Aug. 22, throwing 4.1 innings and giving up four runs (KEIZERTIMES/Matt Rawlings).

The Volcanoes lost to Vancouver 9-1 on Monday for a split of the road series with the Canadians. 

Salem-Keizer actually outhit the Canadians 8-7, but the Volcanoes’ hits were scattered, and in the seventh inning, three Vancouver hitters drew free passes with the bases loaded.

Vancouver scored the first run of the game as McGregory Contreras hit into a fielder’s choice off starter Jordan Scott, scoring Spencer Horwitz. It was Scott’s first start in eight appearances with Salem-Keizer.

In the bottom of the second, Cameron Eden’s hit his first home run of the season over the left field fence, giving the Canadians their second run.

Vancouver scored again in the fourth inning. Contreras, who had led off with a single to center then stole second base, scored as Ryan Sloniger doubled down the left field line. Miguel Figueroa relieved Scott with two outs and struck out the next batter, Trevor Schwecke.

Alek Manoah, the Canadians’ starting pitcher, was removed after four innings. His reliever, William Gaston, gave up the only Volcano run, which was a homer to left field by Alex Canario in the fifth.

After Tyler Wyatt bunted a single for Salem-Keizer in the seventh, he reached second base on an error and went to third on a wild pitch, bringing Jeff Houghtby to bat with one out. Houghtby had singled and doubled earlier in the game, but he couldn’t come through with a runner in scoring position as Vancouver’s Grayson Huffman struck out the Volcanoes second baseman. 

Then came the disastrous seventh inning for Salem-Keizer. After Luis De Los Santos singled to right and Tanner Morris walked, Israel Cruz replaced Abel Adames on the mound. He struck out Horwitz, but loaded the bases by walking Philip Clarke. Contreras drove in De Los Santos with a groundout. Robertson walked and Sloniger doubled Morris and Clarke home, which forced Cruz off the bump. 

Scott was the losing pitcher with a 3-1 record. Gaston was the winner at 3-3.

Wednesday, Aug. 21: Volcanoes 4, Boise 1 (rain-shortened)

The Volcanoes continued their sweep of home wins over the Hawks in a game that was called after six innings because of rain.

Kervin Castro became the first Salem-Keizer pitcher to win five games this season. He pitched the first 5.2 innings, had six strikeouts and left with a 5-3 record and a 2.74 ERA. Cooper Casad, who relieved him, had his first save.

Alex Canario and Yorlis Rodriguez each had two hits for the Volcanoes, and Jeff Houghtby hit his fourth home run.

Boise starter Micah Caczor was the losing pitcher with a 1-3 record.

Thursday, Aug. 22: Volcanoes 6, Boise 5

It wasn’t easy, but Salem-Keizer completed the three-game sweep of Boise.

The Volcanoes scored the first run of the game in the first inning in a unique way. Armani Smith struck out swinging on a ball in the dirt, but when Boise catcher Nic Motley threw to first to complete the putout, first baseman Tyler Plantier couldn’t make the play and Alex Canario scored from third on the error.

Boise answered with a four-run second with a single, a sacrifice fly and a two-run double. In the Volcanoes second, Brandon Martorano singled Yorlis Rodgiguez home, cutting Boise’s lead to two.

In the Salem-Keizer seventh, Jeff Houghtby tripled and then scored on a Jairo Pomares single. Canario doubled Pomares home and Armani Smith scored Rodriguez with a single. Canario scored as Martorano grounded out.

A two-out single in the ninth by Daniel Cope drove in Vladimir Dilone, but Jordan Scott struck out the next batter to preserve the win for Abel Adames (2-0). Colton Hathcock (0-1) was the losing pitcher in relief.

Friday, Aug. 23: Volcanoes 4, Vancouver 1

Jasier Herrera pitched seven innings, allowing five hits and striking out three, leading the Volcanoes to victory in this first game of a road series. His record went to 5-3, and Jorge Labrador pitched the last two innings, getting his first save.

Armani Smith hit a solo home run for Salem-Keizer in the first inning, and Alex Canario hit a two-run homer in the sixth. The Canadians’ one run came in the seventh on a sacrifice fly by Trevor Schwecke.

The losing pitcher was Gabriel Ponce, whose record went to 0-3.

Saturday, Aug. 24: Volcanoes 5, Vancouver 3

It looked like a breeze until the ninth inning, but the Canadians got three runners home before reliever Israel Cruz put the fire out and had his fourth save.

The biggest of the Volcanoes 11 hits was a fifth-inning triple by Armani Smith that drove in Alex Canario and Carter Aldrete. Canario, Harrison Freed, Chris Corbett and Tyler Wyatt each had two hits for Salem-Keizer.

Norwith Gudino, the Volcanoes’ starting pitcher, had four strikeouts in his five innings and won his first game against no losses. Ben Madison followed with three scoreless innings. Andy Rohloff was one out away from ending the game when Brett Wright doubled, moving Jesus Lopez to third base. A walk loaded the bases, another walk forced in a run, which made the score 5-1 and brought the tying run to the plate. 

Cruz came in to get the final out. He gave up a two-run-single to Tanner Morris, but Cruz retired the next batter.

Juan Diaz, Vancouver’s starter, took the loss at 3-5.

Sunday, Aug. 25: Vancouver 7, Volcanoes 1

The host Canadians went wild in the fourth inning, scoring six runs to take down the Volcanoes. 

Salem-Keizer’s lone run of the game came when Beicker Mendoza drove in Armani Smith in the top of the fourth. But in the bottom half of the frame, Vancouver answered with six of its seven runs. An RBI single by McGregory Contreras, a two-run double by Luis De Los Santos, a single by Tanner Morris and a two-run homer by Spencer Horwitz gave the Canadians the lead for good. 

All six runs came off starter Conner Nurse, whose record went to 1-4. The winning pitcher was Luis Quinones in relief, with his second victory against one loss.

Vancouver outhit Salem-Keizer 12-9, and Mendoza had three of the Volcanoes hits.