KEIZER, Ore. — Everything the Everett AquaSox came up with, Salem-Keizer had an answer for — even a grand slam.
Everett’s Fleming Baez launched a grand slam home run in the top of the seventh inning to give his team a four-run lead, but Salem-Keizer came back with its own grand slam in the bottom half of the inning and went on to post an 8-6 Northwest League victory against the Frogs Sunday evening at Volcanoes Stadium. The win gave the Volcanoes the deciding game in the three-game series, and dropped Everett to 5-8.
AquaSox starter Doug Salinas seemed to have Salem-Keizer in check, but had to exit the game in the sixth after a leg injury. Salinas finished with just one earned run in five full innings and left with his team ahead, 1-0.
Everett’s relief simply couldn’t get the job done. Eddy Fernandez, the third of three straight Everett relievers to get roughed up, ended up with the loss after allowing two runs in one inning pitched.
Still, the Frogs seemed to be in great shape when Baez cranked his grand slam in the top of the seventh, giving Everett a 5-1 advantage. Salem-Keizer wasted no time in its response, scoring two runs and loading the bases with no outs in the bottom of the seventh, before catcher Trent Kline smacked his grand slam over the left field fence. In all, the Volcanoes scored six runs on five hits, a walk and a hit batter in the seventh.
Everett pulled within 7-6 in the top of the eight off three singles and a walk, but Salem-Keizer answered that with a run of its own in the bottom half of the inning.
Each team finished with 12 hits, as Bennett Billingsley and Kevin Reynolds were 3-for-4 and Tyson Gillies 2-for-4 with two runs scored for Everett. Every player in the Volcanoes lineup managed at least one hit, as they were led by Kline’s four RBI and first baseman Mike Loberg, who was 3-for-5 with a run scored and two RBI.
Jason Neitz earned the win for Salem-Keizer after entering in the seventh and recording just two outs. Edwin Quirarte picked up his third save of the season for the Volcanoes.
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