'Even Keeled'Making his first start after an eight-day layoff, Tyler Keele would return to All-Star form. Keele's night concluded after six innings of work, two hits, one run and seven strikeouts. Ryan Dobson got the Hops started early, with a single through the 5.5 hole. Clean-up hitter Dan Swain launched
'Even Keeled'
Making his first start after an eight-day layoff, Tyler Keele would return to All-Star form. Keele's night concluded after six innings of work, two hits, one run and seven strikeouts.
Ryan Dobson got the Hops started early, with a single through the 5.5 hole. Clean-up hitter Dan Swain launched his first career home run into the Salem-Keizer bullpen, giving the Hops a two run lead in the first. The Hops were back at it in the bottom of the second when Daulton Varsho singled to center, stole a base and advanced to third on a failed pick off attempt. Varsho was promptly driven in by outfielder Connor Owings.
Savior of the Universe
Since changing his walk up song to "Flash" by Queen on Saturday, Swain is hitting .300 with 5 RBI. Swain continued his big day with a two-out, two-run single to left to drive in Dobson and Luis Lara. It was 5-0 early, and Salem starter Julio Benitez was done after two and a third innings. The eruption continued when John Timmins walked Tra Holmes with the bases loaded and threw his second wild pitch of the inning, scoring Drew Ellis from third. Jorge Perez tallied his fifth and sixth RBIs of the season on a line drive single to center field, clearing the bases and making it 9-0 Hops.
There was some rumbling from the Volcanoes in the top of the fourth when Logan Baldwin tripled to left center and scored on a Ryan Kirby sacrifice fly to center. In need of a shut-down inning, Salem-Keizer found themselves in a bind when Swain drove in his fifth run of the game on a single to center.
A scary moment occurred in the 8th when Hops reliever Jose Martinez was stung in the collarbone by a comebacker. Trainer Kelly Boyce came out to check on him and he was removed from the game and in good spirits following the contest. Erbert Gonzalez inherited three runners from Martinez in a rare eighth inning appearance, only allowing one to score on a Baldwin sacrifice fly and striking out two.
The I-5 rivals continue the series Tuesday night at 7:05pm at Ron Tonkin Field. Catch the game on MiLB.tv and on Rip City Radio 620 AM. Pregame show begins at 6:35 pm.
