Volcanoes clinch playoffs, squeak past Emeralds 4-3

The Volcanoes escaped the Emeralds 4-3 on Wednesday at Volcanoes Stadium, winning the Northwest League South Division and a playoff berth for the first time since 2009. With the win the Volcanoes improved their record to 22-11 on the season and a perfect 12-0 record against other Northwest League teams in Oregon.

Trae Santos singled off of Chase Johnson (1-0) in the second to lead off the inning. It was the first hit surrendered by Johnson in a Volcanoes uniform after throwing four no-hit innings in his first outing. Johnson would throw five shutout innings, allowing only three hits while striking out three and walking one. He is yet to give up a run with Salem-Keizer.

The Volcanoes struck first, putting three runs on the board in the fifth on three hits off of Emeralds starter Erik Schoenrock (2-2). Sam Eberle led off the inning with a walk and would later score on a Ryan Jones double. Randy Ortiz came in on an error by shortstop Felipe Blanco and Jeremy Sy scored on a two-out RBI double by Brian Ragira.

Schoenrock pitched five complete innings, giving up three runs on six hits, striking out four and walking two. His only two losses of the season have come against the Volcanoes.

The Emeralds responded with a run in the sixth when Michael Bass scored on a Fernando Perez single off of reliever Jake Shadle. It would be the only run surrendered by Shadle in his two innings of work.

With the score 4-1 going to the eighth, Armando Paniagua entered the game in relief for the Volcanoes, but would only last two thirds of an inning. He would walk Hunter Renfroe to lead off the inning and three of the first four batters he faced would reach. Renfroe would score on a Mike Miller single followed by Santos scoring on a Henry Charles pinch-hit single to right.

Raymundo Montero entered the game with two outs in the eighth and promptly retired Felipe Blanco on a grounder to second to end the inning and the Emeralds rally.

With the win, the Volcanoes have clinched first place for the first half in the South Division of the Northwest League and a berth in the playoffs. Northwest League playoff berths are given to the teams in each division with the best record at the end of the first and second halves of the season, each half being comprised of 36 games.

Montero came back out for the ninth, looking for his sixth save of the season. He retired the Emeralds in order to end the inning and clinch the win.

The Volcanoes now travel to Tri-Cities to take on the Dust Devils for five games. Game one of that series will be Thursday with a game time set for 7:15 p.m.

About the Volcanoes: The Salem-Keizer Volcanoes are a minor league affiliate of the San Francisco Giants. Home games are played at Volcanoes Stadium in Keizer from mid-June through early-September. Tickets start at just $7. For more information call the Volcanoes at (503) 390-2225.