Hops Rally to Down Volcanoes, 11-9

Salem-Keizer looks for another series win as the Eugene Emeralds come into town, Tuesday night at Volcanoes Stadium.

Salem-Keizer carried a 9-8 lead into the top of the ninth on Sunday, but a two-run home run off the bat of Pedro Ruiz helped push across three runs, as Hillsboro defeated the Volcanoes 11-9 at Volcanoes Stadium. Photo Courtesy: David Barker Salem-Keizer Volcanoes

(KEIZER, Ore. ) - Salem-Keizer carried a 9-8 lead into the top of the ninth on Sunday, but a two-run home run off the bat of Pedro Ruiz helped push across three runs, as Hillsboro defeated the Volcanoes 11-9 at Volcanoes Stadium.

Hillsboro hopped on the board with a two run top of the first. Four straight hits helped the Hops push across those two runs off Volcanoes starter Ethan Miller, and gave the team its first lead of the series.

The Hops tallied on another run in the top of the second when a Fernando Pujadas passed ball allowed Ruiz to cross the plate.

Miller settled down after the second, retiring nine batters in a row. He finished the night allowing three runs, two earned, off of seven hits and no walks.

Hillsboro starter Brent Jones looked strong early Sunday night. Besides a first inning error, Jones was perfect into the fourth inning. However, Jones fell apart in the fifth.

After the Volcanoes scratched across a run in the bottom of the fourth, Jones was unable to record an out in the fifth. Three walks, a hit batter, and a two-run Jonathan Jones double tied the game and chased Jones from the game. Two more runs came across in the bottom of the fifth, as Christian Arroyo and Skyler Ewing produced sacrifice flies to give the Volcanoes a 5-3 lead.

The Hops immediately responded with a five run top of the sixth off Jake McCasland. Jordan Parr started the inning by blasting a double over center fielder Tyler Hollick. Nate Roberston followed with an RBI single, shrinking Salem-Keizer's lead to one run. After Robertson stole second, Pedro Ruiz knocked him in with a line drive back up the middle.

Things took a turn for the worse when Robinson came to the plate with runners on second and third. Robinson grounded a ball to Arroyo who fired home. The ball beat Ruiz to the plate, but he slid into catcher Pujadas, knocking him to the ground and the ball from his glove. A second run scored on the play as an injured Pujadas was unable to get to the loose ball.

Hillsboro scored one more run in the inning, increasing their lead to 8-5.

But the Volcanoes did not let the inning keep them down, as the offense continued to surge late in the game.

In the bottom of the seventh, Arroyo blasted a ball off the very top of the tall wall in center field for an RBI triple. He then scored on a ground ball off the bat of Will Callaway.

Down 8-7 going to the bottom of the eighth, Callaway delivered once again. After a hit and a couple of errors, Callaway came to the plate with two outs and the bases loaded and delivered a go ahead two-run single up the middle.

McVey remained in the game after a scoreless eighth and walked the leadoff hitter before being replaced by Dusten Knight. After a Robertson single drove home the tying run, Ruiz came to the plate. With two outs and an 0-2 count, Ruiz drilled a two-run home run over the right field wall.

The Volcanoes were unable to respond in the bottom of the ninth, and the Hillsboro Hops avoided the sweep with an 11-9 victory.

Jonathan Jones finished the night with two hits and two RBIs.

Callaway continued his surge at the plate, with two hits and three RBI.

Up Next: Salem-Keizer looks for another series win as the Eugene Emeralds come into town, Tuesday night at Volcanoes Stadium.

Source: Salem-Keizer Volcanoes