Salem-Keizer takes series with 5-2 win over Spokane

SPOKANE - The Indians committed four errors in addition to two wild pitches and a passed ball as Spokane's mistakes compounded by the Volcanoes' timely bats balanced out to a 5-2 Salem-Keizer victory on Saturday evening.

The Volcanoes (16-16) evened their second-half record with the win, and have clinched a win in the five-game series with the Indians. Spokane (13-19) continues to fall in the standings with the loss after officially being eliminated from the playoffs.

Spokane picked up the contest's first runs in the first inning off of a throwing error and an RBI groundout, taking an early 2-0 lead.

From that point on, the Volcanoes scored five unanswered runs to make up their early deficit and win the game. Salem-Keizer knotted the game at two with a pair of runs in the second inning. After Chuckie Jones reached on a walk and Dashenko Ricardo singled, Ryan Jones doubled to right field to score both base runners.

More runs came in the fifth for Salem-Keizer, as they took the lead. Two base hits led off the frame for the Volcanoes allowing a later wild pitch and passed ball to score a run each, granting Salem-Keizer the 4-2 lead through five. One final insurance tally was added in the sixth after Stephen Branca - who led off the inning with a double - was driven in on an RBI single by Rafael Rodriguez.

Chris Johnson had his best outing of the season for the Volcanoes after earning the start. Johnson (2-3, 5.93) allowed just two hits and one earned run in his six innings of work. He also struck out six batters en route to his second win of the season. Randy Zeigler held the Indians scoreless in his two innings of relief, giving way to Stephen Johnson who earned the save by recording the final three outs - two via the strikeout. Abel De Los Santos (3-4, 5.98) pitched three innings for Spokane beginning in the fifth and gave up three runs, as he was handed the loss.

The Volcanoes doubled up Spokane 8-4 in the hits column. Ryan Jones recorded base hits in his first two at bats as he also picked up a pair of RBIs. Kentrell Hill represented the other multi-hit performance with two singles of his own. Royce Bolinger was the lone highlight of Spokane's lineup, as the right-fielder went 3-for-4.

With the series win in the books for the Volcanoes, they will still desperately need a victory in Sunday's series finale to keep any hopes of a playoff berth alive. Game five is set to get underway from Avista Stadium at 6:30p.m. A probable pitching matchup of Joan Gregorio (7-6, 4.98) and John Kukuruda (2-4, 4.91) is slated as Salem-Keizer looks to take four of five from Spokane. Upon the completion of Sunday's contest, an off day on Monday will be followed by the last regular season series, spanning Tuesday through Saturday from Volcanoes Stadium.