Volcanoes Rally Yet Again; Get 3-2 Victory over AquaSox

Volcanoes relief pitching shined in Saturday's win, pitching five scoreless innings and racking up nine strikeouts.

Everett pitching dominated Saturday's ballgame, but the Volcanoes rallied in the bottom of the ninth for yet another comeback victory, 3-2 at Volcanoes Stadium. Photo Courtesy: Salem-Keizer Volcanoes

(KEIZER, Ore. ) - Everett pitching dominated Saturday's ballgame, but the Volcanoes rallied in the bottom of the ninth for yet another comeback victory, 3-2 at Volcanoes Stadium.

It was Salem-Keizer's fourth comeback win of the young season, coming all this week.

Craig Massoni was once again the walk off hero, slashing a single down the right field line with two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth for his second walk off hit of the year. The hit scored catcher Fernando Pujadas, who joined the team as they mobbed Massoni between first and second base.

"I love at bats like that," Massoni said. "Realistically, the pressures on him out on the mound. He has to find a way to get me out and I have a lot of confidence in my abilities.

The Everett AquaSox got the scoring started in the top of the first.

After Ethan Miller loaded the bases on two walks and a base hit, the AquaSox left fielder Phillips Castillo delivered a sacrifice fly to right field for the first run of the game.

Miller pitched a scoreless second and third, striking out the side in the second and escaping a first and third no out jam in the third.

In the top of the fourth, the Salem-Keizer defense helped Everett score their second run of the game. With two outs and nobody on, shortstop Luis Caballero grounded a single into left field, and went first to third on a stolen base and a throwing error by catcher Pujadas. The next hitter was Austin Cousino who dunked a double in front of right fielder Shilo McCall, and advanced to third on another throwing error, this time by second basemen Ryan Jones.

Meanwhile, the AquaSox starter Noel De La Cruz was shutting down the Volcanoes.

But in the fifth, De La Cruz ran himself into trouble. After striking out Jonathan Jones to start the frame, the Everett starter walked Ryan Jones and T Relaford, giving way to Pujadas. On a 3-2 pitch, Pujadas roped a ball up the middle scoring Jonathan Jones and cutting the Everett lead in half.

But that's all the Volcanoes would get in the fifth, as a Johneshwy Fargas fielders choice and a Tyler Hollick fly out would end the frame.

Dustin Knight relieved Miller in the top of the fifth and was masterful. Knight tossed three perfect innings while striking out five AquaSox hitters.

"My changeup helped me a lot with getting them off balance on my fastball," Knight said. "I was able to throw it down the middle and they still couldn't put good wood on it."

Meanwhile, the Volcanoes got their lead off hitters on base in the sixth and seventh inning, but were unable to push across the game-tying run.

In the bottom of the eighth, two out walks to Craig Massoni and McCall opened the door for Jonathan Jones. A wild pitch put both runners in scoring position, and the Volcanoes were a base hit away from not only tying the game, but taking the lead. On a 3-2 pitch, Jones swung and missed at a Kodi Kerski fastball and took the game to the ninth.

After Ian Gardeck collected two strikeouts in a perfect 1-2-3 top of the ninth, the rally caps came out as the Volcanoes came to bat down 2-1.

The inning began with a chopper off the bat of Ryan Jones mishandled by the shortstop Caballero. Following the error, Relaford struck out, giving way to Pujadas. The catcher drilled a ball down the right field line for a game tying triple.

Just like that, the Volcanoes were once again in position for a comeback walk off win.

The next hitter Fargas grounded a ball to the Everett third baseman, who juggled the ball and allowed Fargas to reach on the second error of the game. This marked the end for Kerski, as the AquaSox brought in the lefty Cruz Pereira to face Tyler Hollick. Manager Gary Davenport countered with right handed hitter Geno Escalante, who was hit by a pitch to load the bases. After Arroyo induced a fielders choice at home plate, Massoni came to the plate with two outs and the bases loaded.

"I was looking for a fastball," Massoni said. "I knew he didn't have anywhere to put me."

Massoni drilled Pereira's fastball down the right field line for a walk off RBI single.

Volcanoes relief pitching shined in Saturday's win, pitching five scoreless innings and racking up nine strikeouts.

Ryan Jones stole two more bases in the victory, giving him four on the young season.

Up Next: The Volcanoes look to build on their momentum as Jason Forjet takes the mound. He will oppose the AquaSox 5th round pick in the 2014 draft, Dan Altavilla.

Source: Salem-Keizer Volcanoes