Ems Offense Explodes Against Volcanoes

Eugene, OR - A massive offensive output put forth by the Emeralds gave them a 15-5 victory over the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes in front of a sold out crowd at PK Park on Friday.

It started as the past three games for the Emeralds (4-5) have begun, with the opposing team scoring first. Starter Bailey Clark hit Volcanoes (3-6) lead-off hitter Malique Ziegler followed by a soft line drive by Kevin Rivera.
Ziegler and Rivera stole third and second respectively when Juan Rodriguez struck out. Ryan Kirby would hit a sacrifice fly to score Ziegler and make it a 1-0 game. Clark would get out of the inning with a ground out by Manuel Geraldo.
Eugene got the run back and more in the bottom of the inning, all with two outs. Miguel Amaya and Gustavo Polanco both singled to put runners on the corners for Joe Martarano, who was hit by a pitch.
The Ems first run of the game came when Sidney Duprey walked Jhonny Bethencourt to score one and then Tyler Payne to give Eugene a 2-1 lead. Duprey left after the Payne walk but his line was far from done. Hengerber Medina came in to pitch and promptly gave up a bases clearing double to Jose Gonzalez, making it 5-1.
Duprey (0-1, 12.15 ERA) avoided taking the loss after Salem-Keizer four runs over the next two innings. Jeffry Cabrera came up with one out and one on in the second inning, and hit a weak grounder right in front of the catcher Payne.
After getting the out at second, a throwing error moved Cabrera to second on the same play. Richard Amion singled and scored Cabrera to make it 5-2.
In the top of the third a Ziegler single and back to back errors made it a 5-3 game with Kevin Rivera on second and Ziegler scoring. Rodriguez then singled to score Rivera and just like that it was a 5-4 game. Kirby then grounded into a force out, but no throw to first allowed him to reach safely.
After a Kirby steal of second and balk by Clark moved Kirby to third and Geraldo knocked Clark out of the game with a double to tie the game. Clark (0-0, 7.50 ERA) went 3.2 innings with five runs (three earned) and a walk and a strikeout.
Elvis Diaz (1-0, 1.59 ERA) relieved Clark and was sharp for 2.2 innings, giving up just 3 hits but no runs. After the third inning, it would all Ems as they scored in remaining five innings.
It would start with a Zach Davis lead-off homer, his second of the year, to right field in the fourth and continue from there. A Rafael Narea walk and Aramis Ademan single set up a Miguel Amaya sacrifice fly to make it 7-5.
In the fifth Martarano would lead off with a single before being retired on a ground out by Bethencourt, who was safe on the play, before Payne popped out.
Back to back two out doubles by Gonzalez and Davis would make it a 9-5 game before Narea singled home Davis. It would stay 10-5 until Payne uncorked a ball that flew over the left field wall with two runners on, his first homer of the year, making it 13-5.
RBI's by Amaya in the seventh and Narea in the eighth gave the Ems a 15-5 lead, which the bullpen would hold and keep it for the win.
Junior Marte and Andin Diaz both pitched two innings of scoreless relief to preserve the win.
The Emeralds next take on the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes on the road and Volcanoes Stadium on Saturday at 6:35 PM. You can listen to the broadcast locally on 95.3 The Score FM, and on emeraldsbaseball.com.