Three weeks ago, the Tri-City Dust Devils were 12-2 and seemed unbeatable heading into their first meeting of the year against Salem-Keizer.
The Volcanoes took four of five games - two of them by just one run - to bring the Dust Devils' whirlwind back down to earth.
But Tri-City made a statement Tuesday at Gesa Stadium in a 3-1 win over the Northwest League's defending West Division champions.
Our house, our turn.
"We played some close games (in Salem-Keizer)," said Dust Devils manager Fred Ocasio of what remains the first of just two series losses this season. "We lost four, but we could have taken three or four of them."
Tri-City (24-14) picked up a half-game in the East Division standings, extending its lead to
7 1/2 games over Boise (16-21), which was idle.
Ben Paulsen, a third-round draft choice by the Colorado Rockies, drove a one-out RBI triple to straightaway center field to score Tim Wheeler and break a 1-all tie in the bottom of the seventh. Paulsen then scored on a single to center field by Kent Matthes to put Tri-City ahead 3-1.
The Dust Devils didn't have much luck against Volcanoes starter Jeremy Toole, a 10th-rounder out of BYU. But once he was relieved in the top of the sixth, Tri-City hitters found their rhythm against reliever Mario Rodriguez.
"(Toole) did a good job keeping us off balance," said Paulsen of the Dust Devils offense, which collected just three hits against the 6-foot-4 right-hander. "(Rodriguez) had a hard time throwing strikes."
Salem-Keizer took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning when Chris Dominguez hammered a 3-1 fastball from Tri-City starter Josh Hungerman over the left-center field fence.
Paulsen, who finished 2-for-4 with a pair of runs and an RBI, scored the tying run for the Dust Devils in the sixth inning, coming home on Joe Sanders' one-out single.
Hungerman was effective despite not feeling quite up to his best. The 17th-round left-hander out of Cleveland State allowed just one run on two hits through 42⁄3 innings in his third professional start.
"My arm didn't feel that great, but I'm thankful I managed to survive," said Hungerman, whose lowered his ERA to 3.15.
The only mistake Hungerman made was a 3-1 fastball which he left up in the zone to Chris Dominguez to lead off the second inning. Dominguez parked it over the left-centerfield wall for a 1-0 lead.
"When I was coming off the mound, I was laughing and smiling," Hungerman said. "I got away with some mistakes."
Once Hungerman left, however, the Dust Devils outstanding bullpen took over.
Rhett Ballard and Rex Brothers combined for 31⁄3 innings of scoreless relief, and closer Charlie Ruiz notched his NWL-leading ninth save with a perfect ninth.
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LIVE: Dust Devils vs. Salem-Keizer Volcanoes
LIVE: Dust Devils vs. Salem-Keizer Volcanoes
Tri-City 2, Salem-Keizer 1 FINAL: Jordan Ribera reached on an infield single with one out, after Jaron Shepherd pinch-ran, he moved to second on a wild pitch that struck out Leo Reyes.
With a 1-0, two-out count, catcher Ryan Casteel then bounced a single through the right side and Shepherd beat the throw home for the game-winner.
Salem-Keizer 1, Tri-City 1 Mid-9th: A walk, stolen base, bunt hit, stolen base and a walk loaded the bases with one out.
Dust Devils' offense missing vs. Volcanoes
Dust Devils' offense missing vs. Volcanoes
PASCO -- The Tri-City Dust Devils had an opportunity to give Salem-Keizer some trouble Wednesday night at Gesa Stadium.
Trailing by four entering the ninth inning, the Dust Devils loaded the bases with nobody out against Volcanoes reliever Cody Hall.
But Hall struck out Jayson Langfels and David Hernandez before Phil McCormick came in to induce a game-ending groundout by Brian Humphries to clinch the Volcanoes' 4-0 Northwest League win.
Tri-Cities' Gagnon too sharp S-K this time
Tri-Cities' Gagnon too sharp S-K this time
PASCO -- The last time Tyler Gagnon faced the Salem-Keizer lineup, things didn't go so well.
The Tri-City Dust Devils' right-hander from Brentwood, Calif., allowed 10 earned runs in a 14-2 road loss on July 10, a defeat he's still trying to put behind him.
But he doesn't want to forget that feeling, either.
Dust Devils head to NWL championship series
Dust Devils head to NWL championship series
PASCO -- The Tri-City Dust Devils have been able to hold champagne celebrations in the clubhouse twice this season.
First, the Dust Devils did it in late July after clinching the first-half title in the Northwest League East Division. They did it again Tuesday after a 9-1 win over Boise to win the NWL Divisional Playoff series at Gesa Stadium.
They're counting on getting good and happy one final time, hopefully to commemorate Tri-City's first Northwest League championship since 1984. The Tri-City Triplets were the last team from Tri-Cities to win the NWL title. The Tri-City Posse, an independent team, won the Western Baseball League championship in 1999.
Dust Devils clinch second-half title
Dust Devils clinch second-half title
Jared Simon lined a two-run home run over the left field fence in the bottom of the seventh to give the Tri-City Dust Devils the final runs they would need Friday in a 3-1 victory over the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes at Gesa Stadium.
The win clinched the Northwest League second-half East Division title for the Dust Devils (21-16, 43-32), who became the first team to win both halves in a season since the league changed formats before last season.
"Obviously it feels good to win the half," Dust Devils manager Freddie Ocasio said. "But the important thing is the players are playing with energy again and winning games going into the playoffs."
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