Sometimes, the next night isn’t that different. The Salem-Keizer Volcanoes continued their onslaught from the night before to bury the Hillsboro Hops 11-2. Also, like the previous night, the game started out as a potential pitchers’ duel.

The game remained scoreless until the third inning and, even then, both teams only scored one run apiece. The Hops scored after Billy Endris doubled to center and came home from third on a Marcus Wilson single to right. The Volcanoes matched the output on a Kevin Rivera single with Ashford Fulmer already on first with a walk. Fulmer had scooted over to third and came home on a throwing error by right fielder Endris.

Salem-Keizer added another run in the following inning. Zack Bowers doubled to right and moved to third on a wild pitch by the Hops Jeferson Meija. Bowers came home on a sacrifice fly to left by Chase Compton. Volcanoes up 2-1.

That was the last time the Hops were that close. The next inning, the fifth, the Volcanoes exploded for six runs leaving the Hops to play major catch-up. The inning started out with a Kevin Rivera double to right. Rivera dashed over to third on a Manuel Geraldo ground out to second. After a line drive out to third, all of the scoring was done with two outs. Leo Rojas singled in Rivera for the first score. Rojas snuck over to second on a fielding error by left fielder Matt Railey. Zach Bowers was hit by a pitch. On another Meija wild pitch, both runners moved to scoring position. Chase Compton then doubled, scoring both runners. Gustavo Cabrera grounded to short but reached safely on the throwing error by shortstop Paxton De La Garza. Compton scored on the error.

That was enough for a pitching change. Tucker Ward came to the mound to stop the bleeding. He needed a bigger bandage. Jean Angomas drilled a grounder to second off the first baseman’s mitt and reached base safely with a hit. Cabrera moved to third. Ashford Fulmer singled to right scoring Cabrera. Runners were at the corners. Angomas scored the final run of the inning on a wild pitch by Tucker Ward. Volcanoes up 8-1. The Hops would score one more run in the seventh when Marcus Wilson singled Jeff Smith home from third. Smith had reached base on a single to left field. Volcanoes up 8-2.

Salem-Keizer answered with three more runs in the bottom of the inning. With one out, Chase Compton reached first on a fielding error by second baseman Jeff Smith. Gustavo Cabrera singled to left. Jean Angomas singled up the middle scoring Compton from second. Both runners advanced on the throw to home leaving the runners in scoring position. Ashford Fulmer singled to right scoring Cabrera. Angomas moved to third on the play and rushed home when Ward threw his second wild pitch of the night. What would be the final score: Volcanoes up 11-2.

For the Hops, Luke Lowry continued his hot hitting going 2 for 4 upping his batting average to .417 to lead the team. Marcus Wilson also went 2 for 4 knocking in both Hops runs for his first two RBIs of the young season.

For the second night in a row, eight Volcano bats out of the nine starters hit safely and reached base. Jean Angomas led the night going 3 for 4 with a double, an RBI and scoring twice. Zack Bowers, Chase Compton and Gustavo Cabrera also scored twice. Ashford Fulmer and Kevin Rivera hit safely twice and scored once each, with Fulmer bringing home two runs. Compton drove three runs home.

Raffi Vizcaino started for the Volcanoes and pitched four innings of one run, four hit ball but the decision went to Cesar Yanez (1-0) who pitched the fifth and sixth innings for the win. Yanez allowed one hit for two scoreless innings.

Jeferson Meija (0-1) started for the Hops. Meija went 4-2/3 innings allowing 7 runs (5 earned) on 6 hits for the loss.

The Salem-Keizer Volcanoes (2-1) moved up into a tie with league leading Eugene Emeralds (2-1). The Hillsboro Hops (1-2) fell into a tie with the Boise Hawks (1-2) one game behind the leaders. The Hops come home for their season opener Monday night at 7pm against the Emeralds. The last time both teams met was last year in the playoffs as the Hops won the series and a chance to face the North-winning Tri-City Dust Devils for the Northwest League Championship. The Hops won their second straight championship and will celebrate that achievement on Monday night.

Boxscore

by Greg Stoker
@GDStoker