Sloppy Hops Fall 5-3 at Salem-Keizer

KEIZER, ORE. --- Salem-Keizer left fielder Harrison Freed made his Northwest League debut a memorable one on Wednesday night at Volcanoes Stadium, lining a two-run home run to tie the game 3-3 in the bottom of the sixth. The Volcanoes would go on to beat the Hillsboro Hops 5-3 in the middle game of the three-game series, snapping the Hops' four-game winning streak. Hillsboro (8-5) and Salem-Keizer (8-5) are in a tie for first in the South Division, one game up on Eugene. Hillsboro committed three errors leading to two runs, although just one was officially unearned.
It was just Hillsboro's third loss in their last 15 games at Volcanoes Stadium, dating back to 2016.

The game was delayed because of rain by 41 minutes before the first pitch, which was finally thrown at 7:16 PM. When it began, the Hops picked up where they left off in the previous night's win, stringing together four singles for two runs in the top of the first, with Kristian Robinson and Jorge Barrosa driving home runs. Newcomer Eddie Hernandez added another run for Hillsboro with an RBI single in the second.
An error by Hops first baseman Andy Yerzy led to an unearned run for Salem-Keizer in the third inning --- his first error of the season. That would be the only run Hops starter Marcos Tineo would allow in his five innings (four hits, no walks and two strikeouts).
Freed tied the game with his home run off Hops reliever Erin Baldwin in the sixth. Then, in the seventh, the Volcanoes took their first lead of the series when Hops second baseman Nick Grande --- who had made two excellent plays earlier in the game --- bounced a throw to first on a potential double-play. It was 4-3 Salem-Keizer.
Yaramil Hiraldo was uncharacteristically wild in the eighth for Hillsboro, walking three and allowing a hit and a run, as the Volcanoes took a 5-3 lead.
That would be plenty for Salem-Keizer's bullpen. Ben Madison (1.2 ip), Yoel Veras (1.2 ip) and Israel Cruz (1 ip) combined to allow just one hit and no runs over the final 4.1 innings. Cruz picked up his second save, and Veras (1-0) got the win. Baldwin (0-1) took the loss.
Lyle Lin --- the Diamondbacks' 14th-round draft choice this year, out of Arizona State University --- made his professional debut for Hillsboro. He was 1-for-4 with two hard-hit balls as the Hops' DH.
First place will be on the line in the rubber game of the series on Thursday night at Salem-Keizer. Airtime will be 6:30 on Rip City Radio 620 AM, with first pitch scheduled for 6:35.