Salem-Keizer survives 3-2 win over Spokane

SPOKANE, Wash. - Austin Slater's first professional home run as a member of the San Francisco Giants system lifted Salem-Keizer to a 3-2 win over Spokane in front of 5,427 at Avista Stadium.

The game came down to the bitter end as Spokane scored a run in the bottom of the ninth inning and left the bases loaded against Volcanoes closer Eury Sanchez.

The bottom of the ninth inning started with Drew Leenhouts on the mound entering the game for his fourth inning of relief. Leenhouts has allowed a leadoff single to Seth Spivey to start the ninth frame, the first hit for Spokane since the second batter of the first inning. Next batter in Jose Trevino reached to second on a fielding error from Volcanoes third baseman Ryder Jones. Luke Tendler then singled to right field to score Spivey from third base. With the lead down to one run, Salem-Keizer called for its closer Eury Sanchez with runners on the corners.

Sanchez started his tenure off with a strikeout of Josh Morgan followed by a walk to Isiah Kiner-Falefa to load the bases. Fernando Vivili then came up to the plate, having won the game for Spokane on a walk-off three-run homer on Monday night. The first pitch from Vivili off Sanchez was a screamer that tailed just to the left of the left field pole. Sanchez eventually struck out Vivili and forced pinch hitter Juremi Profar to pop out to Skyler Ewing to end the game.

Spokane scored first in the opening frame off Volcanoes starter Keury Mella on a Diego Cedeno single.

Mella finished with the win going five innings allowing two hits and a walk with six strikeouts. He retired 14 batters at one point.

Slater's home run in the third inning was his first of the season, scoring Brett Kay and T Relaford who notched base hits just before the jack.

With Boise's 12-8 win over Everett and Hillsoro's 3-2 victory over Tri-City, the Volcanoes playoff hopes remain in the same condition. Salem-Keizer remains three games out of the Hops in the second half South Division standings. Should Hillboro take the second-half title, the next tiebreaker is overall record between Salem-Keizer and Boise, where the Hawks are two games better.

Five games remain in the schedule in the regular season: Two at Spokane, three at Boise.

Up Next: Salem-Keizer squares off with Spokane in the third game of the series with the Indians. Salem-Keizer turns t Ethan Miller (5-2, 4.42 ERA) opposite Jason Hoppe (1-5, 5.46 ERA).