Tuesday, Jul. 07, 2009

League-leading Volcanoes extend Dust Devils skid to 3 games

HERALD NEWS SERVICES

KEIZER, Ore. -- The Tri-City Dust Devils have hit their first real rough patch of the season.

The Dust Devils scored a single run in the first inning and that was it, losing 5-1 to Salem-Keizer at Volcanoes Stadium.

It was the Dust Devils' (12-5) third straight loss.

The win gives Salem-Keizer (13-4) the best record in the Northwest League.

The Volcanoes touched up Tri-City for 15 hits and got a solid pitching performance from Jorge Bucardo, making short work of the the Dust Devils in a game that lasted just over two hours.

Bucardo gave up three hits in the top of the first inning, including Kevin Clark's run-scoring single. But the right-hander allowed just three hits and no runs in the next five innings and improved his record to 3-0.

The Volcanoes scored two runs in the third to take a 2-1 lead.

Tri-City's Scott Beerer continued his torrid start to the season with two more hits, raising his average to .579.