EVERETT — The Salem-Keizer Volcanoes scored in the top of the first inning and never trailed as they defeated the Everett AquaSox 3-1 before 1,890 fans on Thursday at Everett Memorial Stadium.
Everett (13-14) has dropped five of its past six games. Salem-Keizer improved to 15-12.
Max Roberts (1-3) took the loss for Everett. He allowed eight hits and two earned runs in 4 2/3 innings of work. He struck out six and walked two.
Noah Zavolas struck out two and did not allow a run in 2 1/3 innings of relief for the AquaSox.
Doug Still (1-0) earned the win for Salem-Keizer as he allowed one run on four hits in three innings of relief of starter Sean Hjelle. Jesus Tona struck out two in his two innings of work to pick up his fifth save.
The Volcanoes opened the top of the first inning with three straight hits and Diego Rincones drove in Aaron Bond for a 1-0 lead.
But Roberts averted further trouble by fanning Joey Bart and inducing an inning-ending double play.
Salem-Keizer added another run when Wander Franco doubled in David Villar with two outs in the fourth for a 2-0 lead.
Everett got one back in the bottom of the fourth. Ryan Ramiz broke up the perfect game with a single, and scored when Ryan Garcia followed with another single to make it 2-1.
The AquaSox looked to start something promising in the fifth when Troy Dixon and Nick Rodriguez opened the inning with back-to-back singles. Then Cash Gladfelter hit a grounder to Volcanoes second baseman Kyle McPherson. McPherson tagged out Rodriguez, who knocked McPherson over. Rodriguez was called for interference, resulting in Gladfelter being called out as well.
Bart muscled his sixth home run of the season over the center field wall in the eighth to push Salem-Keizer’s lead to 3-1. It was the fourth straight game with a home run for Bart, who was the second overall pick in last month’s major league draft.
Villar, Franco and Nico Giarratano each had a pair of hits to lead Salem-Keizer.
Garcia had two hits to pace Everett.
The teams return at 7:05 p.m. Friday for the third game of the five-game set.
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