On Wednesday at PK Park, the Eugene Emeralds (28-11) had their revenge on the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes (18-21) prevailing by a score of 4-1 after dropping the first game to them on Tuesday by 5-1.
The Ems got off to an explosive start by going up 3-0 in the first inning. First baseman Chris Pieters hit a single on a ground ball to Volcanoes’ shortstop Ryan Howard. Later while third baseman Wladimir Galindo was at bat, Pieters stole second. Galindo was then hit by a pitch and sent to first base. Then, Jose Paniagua achieved his second triple of the season on a fly ball to right fielder Heath Quinn, sending Pieters and Galindo home and the Ems up 2-0.
However, the Ems weren’t finished scoring for the inning. They would score again when Zach Short hit a single, allowing Paniagua to score his thirteenth run of this season to bring the score up to 3-0.
In the second inning, the Volcanoes remained scoreless, while the Ems scored another run. Left fielder Kevonte Mitchell was walked, while center fielder D. J. Wilson was at bat. Mitchell then stole second on a passed ball. Wilson grounded out to first baseman Leo Rojas tossing the ball to pitcher Conner Menez covering first, but allowing Mitchell to make it to third. Garcia hit a sacrifice fly that was caught in the outfield by center fielder Reynolds sending Mitchell home, bringing the Ems up 4-0 and finishing the scoring for the Ems.
Coming into the game, Emeralds pitcher Manuel Rondon was 3-0. When asked if his record made him more confident, he replied “Always.… I was pitching for them, and I know a couple hitters on the Volcanoes.”
Coming into the game, the Volcanoes’ hitters were performing very well, with four players (Heath Quinn, Gio Brusa, Ashford Fulmer and John Riley) maintaining a batting average above .300 coming into the game.
In the third inning, the Ems held the Volcanoes scoreless with Rondon striking out Geraldo and Reynolds, after Leo Rojas grounded out to second baseman Yeiler Peguero on a throw to first base. The Emeralds also found little success in the third inning, failing to put anyone on base.
The Volcanoes luck began to change as they came close to scoring during the fifth inning. Howard hit a single on a ground ball despite a diving effort to catch the ball by Galindo. Short threw to Pieters at first base, but Howard had already beat his throw. Chase Compton hit another single, followed by Leo Rojas, who was able to reach first because of a throwing error by third baseman Galindo. With the bases loaded and only one out, Geraldo’s hit was caught by Pieters. Soon after, Reynolds’ hit was caught by Mitchell in the outfield.
The Volcanoes would finally score in the sixth inning. Quinn got on base after hitting a single past a diving Galindo. He was sent to second after Brusa was walked. Ashford Fulmer grounded into a double play, as shortstop Short threw to second baseman Peguero, who tagged Brusa out, to first baseman Pieters, beating Fulmer. With Howard at bat, Quinn was at third and John Riley walked on a wild pitch from Rondon, who was then replaced by Tyler Peitzmeier, achieving his fourth win and bringing his record to 4-0. Howard hit a single, allowing Quinn to score. Bringing the final score the aforementioned 4-1.
Neither team managed to score or even put anyone `on base in the remaining innings. The teams will finish out their three game series on Thursday.
Follow Hannah Bonnie on Twitter @hbonnie03