Tyler Fitzgerald prepares to take a turn around first base after hitting a single in the Volcanoes 3-2 win over Hillsboro on Thursday, Aug. 8 (KEIZERTIMES/Matt Rawlings).
A 5-2 loss to the Tri-City Dust Devils opened the Volcanoes’ road trip Sunday, Aug. 11.
Before the game, Volcanoes infielders Sean Roby, Tyler Fitzgerald and Logan Wyatt were promoted to the Augusta Green Jackets — the High-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants — meaning the Volcanoes would be without the majority of their starting infield.
The score was tied at 2-2 going into the seventh inning, but Tri-City scored twice in the seventh and once in the eighth and held Salem-Keizer scoreless the rest of the way.
Facing Kervin Castro, who has been one of the Volcanoes’ more successful starting pitchers this season, Reinaldo Ilarraza led off with a single to center field in the first inning and scored on a single to left by Sean Guilbe, to give Tri-City the 1-0 advantage.
The Volcanoes, however, were able to respond with two runs in the top of the third. Harrison Freed walked, and a double to left center by Marco Luciano, one of three newcomers in the Salem-Keizer lineup, drove him in. Another new Volcano, Connor Cannon, singled to left, scoring Luciano.
Tri-City tied the score with a run in the same inning. Kelvin Melean hit a one-out single to right, stole second base and came home on a wild pitch followed by a throwing error by catcher Chris Corbett.
Both Castro and the Dust Devils’ starting pitcher, Nick Thwaits, went five innings to no decision. Each allowed eight hits; Castro had four strikeouts and Thwaits two.
Pitching the sixth and seventh was Salem-Keizer’s Jorge Labrador, who became the losing pitcher at 0-1. Tri-City’s Wen-Hua Sung, who got the win for a 3-1 record.
In the seventh, Tri-City’s Jack Stronach led off with a single to left center and scored as Matthew Acota hit a sacrifice fly to left. Tre Carter doubled to left and scored on an RBI by Melean, putting the Dust Devils ahead 4-2.
Facing the Volcanoes’ Ben Madison, Guilbe led off with a walk, went to third on a wild pitch by Madison, and scored on a sacrifice fly to left by Stronach.
Tom Colletti had his third save for the Dust Devils.
Thursday, Aug. 8: Volcanoes 3, Hillsboro 2
New pitcher Jasier Herrera got his first win against no defeats and Logan Wyatt led the offense as Salem-Keizer broke its string of losses to Hillsboro in this low-scoring game.
The visiting Hops scored the first run of the game in the fourth inning as Tristin English singled Jesus Marriaga home. The Volcanoes responded with a run in the same inning on Logan Wyatt’s first home run since joining the team.
Wyatt put the Volcanoes two runs ahead in the fifth with a single that drove in Brandon Martorano and Hunter Bishop.
In the seventh, Hillsboro tied the score with a single by Dominic Canzone that scored Ricky Martinez.
Bryce Tucker pitched the top of the ninth, getting his fourth save with two strikeouts.
Friday, Aug. 9: Volcanoes 8, Hillsboro 7
This was a close one all the way, with Deiyerbert Bolivar and Sean Roby making the difference for the Volcanoes in the ninth inning.
Bolivar threw a scoreless frame in the top of the ninth with the score tied, which was later followed by a game-winning RBI-single in the bottom of the ninth to send the Volcanoes to victory.
Hillsboro scored first, with Andy Yerzy hitting a two-run home run in the second. In the fourth, Volcano starting pitcher Prelander Berroa made an error that let Liover Peguero score. Then, Ryan January singled Corbin Carroll home, giving the Hops the 4-0 lead. Salem-Keizer responded with three runs in the bottom half of the frame by hitting two homers, one by Logan Wyatt with Roby on base and a solo shot by Alex Canario.
In the fifth, Volcano reliever Norwith Gudino gave up a pair of runs on a wild pitch and a bases loaded walk. But in the Salem-Keizer fifth, Hunter Bishop homered with Brandon Martorano and Tyler Fitzgerald on base to tie the game. The Volcanoes took the lead moments later when Roby scored on a wild pitch.
Hillsboro’s Tristin English singled Ryan January home in the eighth to tie the score at 7-7.
Bolivar won his third game against no losses and lowered his earned run average to 0.54 in the ninth. Bryan Menendez was the losing pitcher at 0-2 as Roby’s walkoff single scored Harrison Freed.
Saturday, Aug. 10: Volcanoes 12, Hillsboro 9
Salem-Keizer made this series a sweep, scoring eight runs in the third inning of this rain-delayed game.
Hillsboro outhit the Volcanoes 13-10, but the Volcanoes got a trio of home runs from Sean Roby, Brandon Martorano and Carter Aldrete. Roby homered in the first inning, while Martorano and Carter hit their dingers in the third inning — Martorano’s homer was a grand slam.
Roby and Martorano drove in four runs each. For the Hops, Liover Peguero was the hit leader with three and Corbin Carroll led with two RBIs.
Jordan Scott was the winning pitcher in relief for a 2-0 record and Clay Helvey had his fourth save. The loss went to Hillsboro’s starter, Conor Grammes, 0-1.
Monday, Aug. 12: Tri-City 2, Volcanoes 0
The second shutout against the Volcanoes this season guaranteed the Dust Devils a series win.
Salem-Keizer could not make its five hits against five for Tri-City count for anything. Volcano starter Travis Perry went 5.1 innings with seven strikeouts and allowed both Dust Devil runs as he took the loss for a 3-2 record. Ignaco Feliz, Tri-City’s starter was the winner at 2-2.
Logan Driscoll,who drove in both Dust Devil runs, had three hits in the game.
Chris Corbett, who hit a double, was the only Volcano with an extra-base hit.
Tuesday, Aug. 13: Tri-City 4, Volcanoes 1
The Volcanoes suffered a sweep but broke a 23-inning scoreless streak.
Trailing 4-0 going into the ninth inning, Salem-Keizer had Armani Smith leading off when he sent a pitch from Deacon Medders into the left field seats for his third home run since he joined the Volcanoes.
The Dust Devils scored their first two runs in the first. Reinaldo Ilarraza tripled, scoring Jordy Barley, and a sacrifice fly by Logan Driscoll got Ilarraza home.
In the Tri-City sixth, Driscoll drove in Barley and Ilarraza by grounding out.
Jason Reynolds was the winning pitcher in relief for a 2-3 record. The loss went to starter Jasier Herrera at 1-1.