Ems Can't Escape 6th Inning, Lose 6-2

A three run outburst in the sixth by the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes sent the Ems to their second straight 6-2 loss in front of 3,724 fans at PK Park.

Riley Thompson (0-2) got his second loss of the year after allowing a pair of runs to score in the first and another in the second. Thompson opened the game by hitting back-to-back Volcanoes (17-16) before a ground out moved them to second and third. David Villar then singled and drove both runners home to make it a 2-0 game.
After a walk, Thompson induced a ground ball double play that ended the inning, but in the second Nico Giarratano homered with one out on a 1-0 pitch, making it a 3-0 game. Thompson finished the inning and came out of the game, throwing 43 pitches, giving up three runs on three hits, a walk, and a strikeout.
Faustino Carrera came in for Thompson and looked like he would hold the Volcanoes in place. Through his first three innings of work, he scattered four hits and got a pair of strikeouts. The Ems (11-22) broke through on offense to back Carrera in the fourth and fifth, getting a run each inning.
Nelson Velazquez came up with two out in the bottom of the fourth and launched his second homerun of the series and fifth on the year to close the gap 3-1. Then in the fifth, Erick Gonzalez doubled with one out and, after a fly out, scored when Luis Vazquez doubled to make it a 3-2 game.
Carrera ran into trouble in the sixth, however, giving up four hits in the inning as the Volcanoes scored three times with two outs to make it a 6-2 game. He pitched a perfect seventh to complete 5 innings of work, striking out five without walking anyone, giving up three runs on eight hits.
Stephen Ridings and Riley McCauley each threw a perfect inning of relief, with Ridings striking out the side on just 15 pitches.
The Ems take to the road to close out the first half of the season. They will be back at home to start the second half against the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes from July 24-26. Get your tickets now at emeraldsbaseball.com.