KEIZER ORE-- The Volcanoes fought hard to win this game and the series as they went down 3-0 early on. Sean Hjelle got the start for the Volcanoes and was not able to make it out of the second inning. He started the game off by allowing a home run
KEIZER ORE-- The Volcanoes fought hard to win this game and the series as they went down 3-0 early on. Sean Hjelle got the start for the Volcanoes and was not able to make it out of the second inning. He started the game off by allowing a home run on the very first pitch and then two batters later to the Spokane outfielder Tanner Gardner. The Indians would get ahead early, but after making four errors in the eighth they could not hold on to the lead any longer.
The Volcanoes offense was on fire as they racked up eleven hits on the day. Three different players had multi-hit games including Joey Bart, Wander Franco, and David Villar. These three were in the heart of the Volcanoes order and provided the firepower you would expect from those spots in the lineup. Bart and Franco both had doubles and both of them came in clutch situations. Franco came up in the fourth inning with the Volcanoes down by five runs and the bases loaded. He would lace a double down the left field line and score all three runs to bring the Volcanoes back to within two runs. Bart's double came in the eighth inning when he led off the inning by slashing a ball down the left field line and was able to reach third on the play from a Spokane overthrow. He would end up scoring the tying run in the game on a Villar RBI-single.
Greg Jacknewitz again provided a solid outing out of the pen as he provided the Volcanoes with 5 IP, while allowing 3 ER and racking up 3 Ks. He was able to keep the game close and allowed the Volcanoes to get back into it. Mack Meyer came in relief of Jacknewitz and threw an inning and a third of scoreless relief to get the win. He only allowed 1 hit throughout his outing. Jesus Tona came in for the save and did what he does best, strike people out. He had three strikeouts in the ninth to secure the save. In 17 IP this season, Tona has 23 strikeouts and also ends the first half tied for the lead in saves with 6.
The eighth inning was the turning point for the Volcanoes as they went into it trailing by a score of 6-5. The leadoff double from Bart got the offense started and the Villar single brought him in to tie the game. Then after a Franco single, Spokane pitcher Sean Chandler overthrew the first baseman on a pickoff attempt and that made it second and third with no outs. After that, the Volcanoes scored on a single, and then another one from a squeeze bunt by Kyle McPherson. The Indians would make another error and the Volcanoes ended the inning with a 9-6 lead. They would take that lead into the ninth and Tona shut the door.
The Volcanoes will start the second half of their season Tuesday night with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 PM down in Eugene vs the Emeralds. Norwith Gudino will be on the mound for the Volcanoes.
