Volcanoes tag Cishek with loss

EVERETT, Washington - The purpose of Minor League Baseball is to prepare young men for careers in the Major League, and Monday night, August 15, in Everett, Washington, the members of the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes got to take advantage of that preparation: by facing off against Seattle Mariners closer Steve Cishek in a 7-0 win for the Volcanoes. 

Facing off against Major League pitchers, and getting quality hits off them, is exactly what is needed to build confidence in young ballplayers. Third baseman Manuel Geraldo and left fielder Gio Brusa did just that for the Volcanoes, scoring a run that would hand Cishek the loss.

Cishek, on a rehab assignment for the Mariners, pitched the first inning for the AquaSox. The first batter he faced, third baseman Manuel Geraldo, did what he does best in the leadoff spot - he got on base via a single to left field. 

The closer then did what he does for the Mariners, striking out the next two Volcanoes' batters. With two outs, left fielder Gio Brusa hit a ball sky high to the outfield. At first it looked like a lazy fly ball, but somehow the ball fell to the ground and Geraldo came around to score. Cishek then struck out the next batter, finishing the inning and the rehab assignment with three strikeouts. 

Volcanoes starter Victor Concepcion had one of his best starts of the year, giving up just four hits through six innings without allowing a run to cross. Concepcion finished with seven innings pitched, no runs scored and four strikeouts. 

Salem-Keizer capitalized on a Little League-type mental error in the sixth inning to score a run. With one out in the inning, right fielder Heath Quinn advanced to third base on a fly out to right field. The AquaSox right fielder, Dimas Ojeda, thought there were three outs on the catch and did not throw the ball in. Third base coach and manager Kyle Davis waved Quinn home emphatically and Quinn scored to take a 3-0 lead in the game.

Matt Pope came in to get a six-out save in the eighth inning with the Volcanoes up 3-0. Then, in the ninth, Pope got exactly what he needed as a late inning pitcher - run support, and he got a lot of it.

Two straight base hits in the ninth inning from shortstop Ryan Howard and first baseman Ryan Kirby put runners on the corners for catcher John Riley to drive in. Riley doubled to score Howard in his at bat. Geraldo got hit by a pitch by Dillon Moyer to load the bases before center fielder Bryan Reynolds closed his night with a bases clearing double to center field. Reynolds ended the night with four RBIs. 

The seven runs were more than enough to bury the AquaSox in the game, winning the game 7-0. Concepcion pitched the best performance of the year by any Volcano pitcher and Pope gave up no runs in the Volcanoes' second shut out of the year, their first of the month. 

Salem-Keizer will go for the series win Tuesday, August 16, in Everett, Washington. Mac Marshall will take the mound in a 7:05 p.m. start at Everett Memorial Stadium.