Volcanoes Use 4-Run Rally to Defeat Eugene

The Volcanoes head north to Hillsboro to battle the first place Hops Friday night.

Thursday night provided a back and forth contest at Volcanoes Stadium, but Salem-Keizer was able to break through permanently with a four run rally in the bottom of the sixth, as the Volcanoes defeated the Eugene Emeralds 6-5. Photo Courtesy: David Barker - Salem Keizer Volcanoes

(KEIZER, Ore. ) - Thursday night provided a back and forth contest at Volcanoes Stadium, but Salem-Keizer was able to break through permanently with a four run rally in the bottom of the sixth, as the Volcanoes defeated the Eugene Emeralds 6-5.

Two of those runs came off the bat of Tyler Hollick, who slapped a double down the left field line with two outs.

"I was just trying to get a good pitch to hit," Hollick said. "Fortunately he left one out a little bit over the plate and I was able to get a barrel on it."

The Volcanoes got the scoring started in the bottom of the first. Johneshwy Fargas and Hollick both reached on free passes to start the inning. Christian Arroyo moved both runners over on a slow chopper to shortstop, setting the table for Skyler Ewing. Ewing delivered another RBI, his ninth in just 13 at bats this year, on a fielder's choice to shortstop.

Going into the top of the second, Volcanoes starter Jose Reyes was looking to build off an excellent first frame in which he struck out two and sat down Eugene 1-2-3. However, the Emeralds quickly jumped on him with a Marcus Davis double and a Jose Urena single. Davis crossed the plate on a Ewing error, and the game was knotted up at one a piece.

Reyes finished the evening pitching six strong innings. He allowed six hits, no walks, and three earned runs while striking out seven.

Eugene broke the tie in the top of the third with three consecutive singles from Trea Turner, Chase Jensen, and the red hot Franchy Cordero. The Emeralds did not hold the lead for long.

The game was tied again in the bottom of the fourth. T Relaford reached on Jensen's fielding error, stole second base and advanced on a throwing error from the catcher Miguel Del Castillo. This set the table for Shilo McCall, who drilled a ball up the middle on a 3-2 pitch to tie the game at two.

The top of the sixth saw Eugene take the lead once again, starting with a one out Davis double off the left field wall. Davis stole third base, giving Urena the RBI opportunity. Urena took advantage with a chopper to Arroyo, whose only play was to first base. Eugene grabbed a 3-2 lead on the RBI fielders choice.

The seesaw battle continued with a four run Volcanoes rally in the bottom half of the sixth.

Relaford was hit by a pitch with one out in the inning and then stole his second base of the evening. Jared Deacon knocked in Relaford with a base hit to left, tying the game at three. Brett Kay followed Deacon with another single and Fargas was hit by a pitch to load the bases. With two outs, Hollick came to the plate with the bases loaded.

Hollick slapped a line drive down the left field line for a two run double.

"We've been really good in the late innings so this has come to be expected," Hollick said. "The camaraderie in the dugout is getting better every day."

Arroyo followed with a single to right field. Fargas was able to score to make it a 6-3 Volcanoes lead, but Hollick was gunned at the plate by Yale Rosen to end the inning.

Eugene trimmed the lead to one in the top of the seventh. Cameron McVey relieved Reyes and gave up an Auston Bousfield double and a Del Castillo triple to start the inning. Felipe Blanco grounded out to Arroyo, allowing Del Castillo to score and producing a 6-5 score.

No more runs would cross the plate in the game, as EJ Encinosa and Eury Sanchez shut down the Eugene lineup in the eighth and ninth.

Will Callaway singled in the bottom of the first inning, extending his league leading hitting streak to 13 games.

Brett Kay finished the night 2-4 with a double and a run scored.

Up Next: The Volcanoes head north to Hillsboro to battle the first place Hops. Nick Gonzales will toe the rubber as The Volcanoes look to win their third straight series

Source: Salem-Keizer Volcanoes

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