Thursday, Jul. 09, 2009

Dust Devils fall 4-0 to league-leading Salem-Keizer

By the Herald staff

KEIZER, Ore. -- Salem-Keizer found the best way to quiet Tri-City's hot bats during a 4-0 win Wednesday at Volcanoes Stadium.

They used some even hotter pitchers to slow them down.

Wilber Bucardo and David Quinowski combined to hold the Dust Devils to two hits as Salem-Keizer took four of five games in the series.

Tri-City went into Keizer having won 12 of its first 14 games, but the Volcanoes outhit the Dust Devils 54-34 and outscored them 24-17 over five games.

"That's one thing, they have a good pitching staff," said Tri-City manager Fred Ocasio. "We couldn't do much off them. Besides that, they don't make errors and they don't give away runs."

The Dust Devils (13-6) did not lose any ground in the East Division standings, as Yakima (7-12) got swept by Everett to fall six games back.

Spokane (8-11) moved into second place after winning three of five against Vancouver.

Bucardo walked the very first batter he faced in Tim Wheeler, who then reached second on a sacrifice bunt by Jeremiah Sammy. But only one other runner would reach second base during the game as Bucardo allowed just two hits through seven innings to improve to 3-0.

Designated hitter Kevin Clark had both of Tri-City's hits. In the top of the fourth, Clark hit a two-out single to center, stole second and took third on a throwing error by catcher Kyle Henson.

But Joseph Sanders struck out to end the inning. No other Dust Devils batter reached second base.

Clark raised his average to .270 and stole his fifth base of the season.

C.J. Ziegler hit a solo home run to centerfield off Tri-City starter Dan Perkins (1-1), who allowed three runs on four hits in five innings. Juan Martinez blasted a two-out two-run homer off Perkins in the fourth to make it 3-0.

The Dust Devils return home to open a five-game series against Everett at Gesa Stadium at 7:15 p.m. today.