The Salem-Keizer Volcanoes beat the Eugene Emeralds 4-3 Wednesday night, completing a three-game sweep of their in-state rivals. Chase Johnson made his second start for the Volcanoes and picked up his first win of the season (1-0). Johnson pitched five scoreless innings of three-hit ball, striking out three along the way. Johnson has yet to allow a run so far this season in nine innings of work.
Erik Schoenrock (2-2) started on the mound for the Ems and pitched well but was hurt by an error, which led to two Salem-Keizer runs. After Ryan Jones doubled home Sam Eberle in the fifth, Jeremy Sy reached base safely on a throwing error by shortstop Felipe Blanco, allowing Randy Ortiz to score. Ortiz singled and got robbed of an RBI on a perfect throw to the plate by right fielder Hunter Renfroe, ousting Jones, the attempted scorer. Brian Ragira doubled, driving in Sy who reached on the Blanco error.
Schoenrock allowed three runs (one earned) on six hits with four strikeouts and two walks on the night.
The Ems’ first chance to score came in the third inning when Blanco reached second with one out and advanced to third with two down, but a Michael Bass groundout stranded the runner.
Eugene finally broke through in the sixth against Jake Shadle. Bass singled to lead off the inning and would later score on a Fernando Perez single. With Perez and Santos on base and two outs, a Shadle wild pitch advanced the runners to second and third. Malquiel Brito grounded out to first to end the inning with Eugene trailing 3-1.
Salem-Keizer added an insurance run in the seventh with two outs as Jones scored from second, courtesy of Sy’s fifth double of the season.
The Ems could smell a comeback in the eighth. Renfroe led off the inning with a walk, and Trae Santos followed by reaching on an error, putting two runners on with nobody out. Perez grounded out but the runners still advanced, setting up Michael Miller with two runners in scoring position and one away. Miller would come through with a line drive single to center, scoring Renfroe and cutting the lead to 4-2. Pinch hitter Henry Charles added an RBI single, decreasing the Volcanoes’ lead to 4-3. Blanco grounded out to end the inning, and it would be up to the top of the order to complete the comeback in the ninth.
In the end the Emeralds fell short, being retired in order by closer Raymundo Montero who picked up his sixth save of the season.
Salem-Kezier’s bullpen made it interesting, but when all was said and done the Volcanoes offense was enough to hold off the Emeralds, and Shadle and Armando Paniagua were each credited with their second hold of the campaign.
The Ems have now dropped four in a row and will look to bounce back as they continue their road trip against the Vancouver Canadians.