Salem-Keizer Volcanoes Feast on Hillsboro Hops, 9-2
Sunday, Randy Johnson, a former Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher, was inducted into the Hall of Fame. Monday night, the Hillsboro Hops, a short season single-A affiliate of the Diamondbacks, could have used him on the mound. The Salem-Keizer Volcanoes feasted on the Hops 9-2 on Randy Johnson Bobble Head Night.
Andrew Leenhouts (5-2) started for the Volcanoes and kept things under control for the five innings he pitched. Leenhouts allowed one run on three hits, walked four and struck out two for the win. Nolan Riggs followed with three innings of near perfection as he walked one batter and struck out four. Eric Sim pitched the last inning allowing one run on two hits. He walked two and struck out two.
The Hops had a rougher night going through five pitchers. Cody Reed (4-2) started and pitched 1.2 innings. Reed allowed seven runs on seven hits, walked two and struck out one for the loss. Troy Marks and Lawrence Pardo both allowed one run on three hits. Brody Greer and Taylor Clarke kept the Volcanoes scoreless in the last three innings.
The Volcanoes struck first. In the first inning, Steven Duggar led the way after he walked on a full count. C.J. Hinojosa bunted safely towards third and moved Duggar to second. Miguel Gomez hit hard to second baseman Fernery Ozuna. Ozuna made a diving stop to keep the ball from going into the outfield but he had no throw to first. The bases were loaded. Fernando Pujadas sacrificed to deep to left to bring home Duggar for the game’s first score. It was only a small foreshadowing of what would come next.
In the second inning, the Volcanoes exploded for six runs and the Hops could never catch up. Julio Pena singled to left just past the reaching glove of third baseman Nate Robertson. John Riley punched a grounder through the left side hole to move Pena to second. Richard Amion bunted safely to load the bases. Steven Duggar walked forcing Pena home for the score. C.J. Hinojosa sacrificed to deep right to bring home Riley. Ronnie Jebavy drilled a double down the third base line and to the warning track to score both Amion from second and Duggar from first. Miguel Gomez lined a double down the first base line to score Jebavy.
Troy Marks came on to relieve Cody Reed. Fernando Pujadas punched one past second baseman Fernery Ozuna scoring Gomez from second. By the time the dust had settled, the Volcanoes were leading 7-0.
The Hops would strike back in the bottom of the inning. Gerard Hernandez hit a towering fly to center field and to the fence on one bounce for a stand up triple. Nate Robertson sent another towering fly ball to center for the sacrifice and the Hops were on board.
The Volcanoes would slowly add to their lead. In the fourth, Shilo McCall led off with a line drive down the third base line and to the warning track for a stand up double. With Ronnie Jebavy at the plate, a passed ball by catcher Jose Queliz allowed McCall to third. Jebavy smacked a grounder that bounced off the mound before traveling up the middle for an RBI single bringing McCall home.
In the sixth, the Volcanoes added their last score. With one out, Ronnie Jebavy walked on a full count. Miguel Gomez slapped a line drive single into right field and Jebavy scooted over to third. Fernando Pujadas singled to center to drive home Jebavy.
The Hops would add their second run in the ninth. Gerard Hernandez started off by walking on four straight pitches. Nate Robertson followed by walking on five pitches. Sergio Alcantara, who came in earlier defensively, looped a single over the short stop C.J. Hinojosa to load the bases. Zach Nehrir hit for an infield single to score Hernandez. Final score was 9-2.
For the Volcanoes, Miguel Gomez went 3 for 5 with a run scored, a double and an RBI. Ronnie Jebavy went 2 for 4, scoring twice, hit a double and earned three RBIs. Fernando Pujadas went 2 for 4 and had three RBIs. Shilo McCall went 1 for 3, scored a run and had a double.
Gerard Hernandez went 1 for 3, scoring both runs for the Hops and had a triple. Zach Nehrir and Nate Robertson had an RBI each.
Tonight was the first game of the second half. Both teams started tonight with blank records. The Salem-Keizer Volcanoes (1-0) take an early division lead while the Hillsboro Hops (0-1) start out one game behind. Both teams play the final game of the three game series Tuesday night. The series is tied 1-1.
by Greg Stoker
@GDStoker
