Trevor Horn throws an off-speed pitch to the plate in the Volcanoes series finale with Tri-City on Thursday Aug.1 (KEIZERTIMES/Matt Rawlings).
It was the kind of game the Volcanoes usually have won this season, but this time, Salem-Keizer couldn’t finish the job as they lost 7-6, giving their Hillsboro hosts sole possession of first place in the Northwest League’s South Division.
Salem-Keizer scored four runs in the top of the first inning. Hillsboro did the same in the bottom of the first. The Volcanoes added a run in the top of the second, and the Hops answered with three runs in their half of the inning.
In the sixth, the Volcanoes scored once more. However, this did not start the late-game comeback for which they have been known for this year, even though Salem-Keizer outhit Hillsboro 11-4.
Hunter Bishop led off the top of the first inning with a double to left center field. Alex Canario then hit a home run, his fifth, to center. Jeff Houghtby walked, and Brandon Martorano singled to left. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch moments later, then eventually scored on a two-run single from Harrison Freed.
With one out in the Hillsboro first, David Garza Junior reached base on an errant throw by third baseman Yorlis Rodriguez. Garza Jr. then stole second base, which was followed by a walk from Kevin Lachance. Jesus Marriaga sent both runners home with a triple to center. Andy Yerzy then tied the score with a home run over the center field fence.
Volcano starter Conner Nurse struck out the next two batters to retire the side.
In the top of the second, Bishop walked, and Canario batted him in with a double down the left field line.
With one out in the bottom of the second, Nick Grande walked, Ricky Martinez was hit by a pitch and Garza homered to left to give the Hops a 7-5 lead.
Jacob Stevens relieved Hillsboro starter Tyler Holton after two innings and pitched two innings himself, getting the win for a 2-0 record.
Nurse, who became the losing pitcher with an 0-2 record, was relieved by Tyler Schimpf with two outs in the fourth. He gave up all four Hillsboro hits and had five strikeouts and two walks.
The final Volcano run was a leadoff homer to left by Freed in the top of the sixth off Sam Lewis.
Bryan Menendez pitched the next two innings for Hillsboro, and Eduardo Herrera pitched the ninth, getting his fourth save. Israel Cruz pitched the final inning for the Volcanoes, striking out three.
Canario had four of the Volcanoes’ hits, matching the total number for the Hops. Freed also added three hits in the loss.
The attendance was 3,565.
Wednesday, July 31: Volcanoes 10, Tri-City 0
Alexander Canario and Kervin Castro led the way to this rout of the visitors from Pasco.
Canario had three hits, including a solo home run in the fourth inning, as well as two RBIs and two runs scored. Castro, the starting pitcher, went six innings, striking out four and allowing two hits and no walks for his fourth win against two losses.
The Volcanoes scored four of their runs in the first inning. Tyler Fitzgerald singled Canario home, Ricardo Genoves singled to drive in Labour and a double by Jeff Houghtby scored Fitzgerald and Genoves.
Angel Acevedo, the Dust Devils’ starter, took the loss for a 1-4 record.
Thursday, Aug. 1: Tri-City 15, Volcanoes 4
The Dust Devils must have been fed up with losing, because they made sure this last game of the series would deny the Volcanoes a sweep.
Tri-City jumped out to a 9-0 lead before the Volcanoes could push one across — the Dust Devils finished with 18 hits on the night and also took advantage of four Salem-Keizer errors.
The Volcanoes got all of their runs in the fourth inning. Harrison Freed hit a solo home run, Logan Wyatt drove in Tyler Fitzgerald with a single. Then, a single by Jeff Houghtby scored Wyatt and Armani Smith.
The Dust Devils also had a homer, a solo shot by Tre Carter in the fourth.
Dominic DiSabatino was the winning pitcher in relief with a 2-0 record. The losing pitcher was starter Trevor Horn, whose record went to 2-3 after giving up seven earned runs in three innings.
Friday, Aug. 2: Hillsboro 7, Volcanoes 2
The Hops got five runs in the bottom of the first and never looked back in their series-opening win against the Volcanoes.
Tristin English led the Hillsboro attack with three RBIs. He had two hits, as did David Garza and Daniel Wasinger. Salem-Keizer scored in the second inning when Kwan Adkins singled Jeff Houghtby home and in the sixth when Beicker Mendoza scored Houghby with a double.
Volcano starter Jesus Ozoria lasted only 1.2 innings and took the loss with his record going to 4-3. Wilfry Cruz was the winning pitcher in relief for a 3-2 record.
Sunday, Aug, 4: Hillsboro 7, Volcanoes 2
Seven turned out to be the Hops’ lucky number in this sweep of Salem-Keizer. It was Hillsboro’s score for each of the three games.
The Hops took charge in the first inning with three runs. Ricky Martinez scored as Jesus Marriaga hit into a force out. Andy Yerzy doubled to score David Garza and Marriaga. In the second, Nick Grande scored as Garza grounded out.
The first Volcano run came in the sixth. Hunter Bishop scored on an RBI-groundout by Armani Smith. Hillsboro answered with two runs in the bottom of the sixth. Grande grounded out, scoring Daniel Wasinger. Kevin Lachance scored on an error.
In the Volcano eighth, Logan Wyatt singled Sean Roby home.
Deyni Olivero was the winning pitcher in relief with a 7-1 record. Travis Perry started and lost for the Volcanoes; his record went to 3-1.