Newcomer helps S-K top Indians
Murray’s three-run blast in ninth lifts Volcanoes
Rapid turnover is a constant threat for minor league baseball teams, but sometimes the infusion of new blood can be just what the doctor ordered.
That is the hope of the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes and recent call-up Michael Murray. Murray and four of his teammates from the Arizona rookie league made the jump to Salem-Keizer in time for Thursday’s loss against Spokane.
On Friday, Murray helped deliver a 9-8 win for the Volcanoes in front of a capacity crowd of 6,829 at Avista Stadium.
Trailing Spokane (5-5) 7-6 with two outs in the top of the ninth inning, Murray crushed a pitch from Tim Steggall (2-1) over the left-field fence for a three-run home run and a 9-7 lead.
That would hold up as S-K pitcher Shawn Sanford (2-3) allowed a leadoff homer to Jake Skole in the bottom of the inning but would retire the side before allowing any more damage, giving the Volcanoes (3-7) the victory.
“Me and four other guys just got in here from Arizona and we’ve been talking to the other guys about what we need to be doing to make the playoffs,” said Murray, who finished the game with three hits and four RBIs.
Fellow call-up John Eshlemen put his stamp on the win for the Volcanoes with three hits and a run scored.
“You always want to get off to a decent start with a bunch of new guys,” Murray said. “It helps show them you can play a little bit and hopefully it’ll help our team move forward and get on a little bit of a roll here.”
Spokane allowed 15 hits to the Volcanoes, getting outhit by the visiting squad for the second straight game.
The Indians also committed one costly error that led to a two-run third inning as well as a short outing by starter Nicholas McBride.
McBride lasted just 31/3 innings, giving up six runs (five earned) on nine hits.
With five runs in the first inning against Volcanoes starter Edwin Escobar, Spokane started fast. A two-run home run from Kevin Rodland in the seventh – his second homer in as many days – had the Indians ahead 7-6, but Steggall could not hold the lead, despite retiring the first two hitters in the ninth inning.
Richmond crashes
Spokane outfielder Josh Richmond came out of the game in the third inning after crashing hard into the right-field wall, but afterward said his leaving the lineup was more of a precaution than due to injury. He could return to action as early as today.