Volcanoes lose extra inning affair

HILLSBORO, Ore - Making the trek up Interstate-5, out Highway 217 and west towards the coast on Highway 26, the Volcanoes stopped to begin a three game series, a part of a four-game road trip, against the Hillsboro Hops. The two teams played a four hour, nine minute classic in the Hops' home opener that lasted 12 innings and ended on a walk-off hit for the home side, taking game one of the series 7 to 6.
Salem-Keizer struck for two in the first via the second leadoff home run of the season from centerfielder Malique Ziegler. A handful of singles in a row plated the second run of the inning off the bat of first baseman Ryan Kirby. The Volcanoes then placed another crooked number on the scoreboard in the third inning. Ziegler led-off the inning with a single up the middle then stole the 22nd stolen base of the season for the visitors putting him in a situation to score when Rodriguez put a ball in play that forced an error from the Hops' third baseman Eudy Ramos. Rodriguez moved to third on a failed pick-off attempt from the Hops' starter Matt Koch. Kirby immediately took advantage of the second error and plated Rodriguez, his second RBI of the game, with a double to center.
The following inning, the Volcanoes used three straight singles to score two runs for the second time in as many innings and the third time in the game, making the score 6 to 0. Shortstop Manuel Geraldo singled to left field, designated hitter Dylan Manwaring singled to right field and third baseman Byron Murray plated his fourth RBI of the season on a single to left giving Salem-Keizer a commanding six run lead.
The Hops did not roll over and scored two runs in the bottom half of the fourth inning on a two-run jack by designated hitter Kyle Smith. The seventh inning is where the Hops did the most damage Hillsboro scored four runs on the Volcanoes' reliever Hengerber Medina who relieved starter Alex Bostic, finished with 5.0 ip, three hits, two runs, and four strike outs.
In the inning, the Hops tallied three hits, capitalized on an error and a past ball to plate four runs and tie the game at six-a-piece.
The game stayed 6 to 6 from the seventh inning until the twelfth. The Volcanoes' reliever Matt Pope tossed 3.1 brilliant innings out of the bullpen, not allowing a run while striking out three while stranding the winning run at third base twice, once in the ninth and once in the tenth.
The Volcanoes did not have a runner in scoring position after the sixth inning. The Hops took advantage of the door continuing to be left open by Salem-Keizer and in the twelfth inning used a leadoff walk to first baseman Paxton De La Garza and back to back hits from catcher Cole Thompson and shortstop Domingo Leyba to push the winning run, De La Garza, across home to win.
The two in-state rivals will go back to work tomorrow, Wednesday June 21, at 7:05 p.m. in Hillsboro for game two of the series.