Boise Hawks infielder L.J. Hatch (9) dives for ball shallow hit to right field during Wednesday’s home opener against Salem-Keizer at Memorial Stadium.
Boise Hawks pitching coach Bob Apodaca (34) comes out visit with starting pitcher Pearson McMahan (23) during a difficult second inning in Wednesday’s game against Salem-Keizer.
Boise Hawks infielder L.J. Hatch (9) dives for ball shallow hit to right field during Wednesday’s home opener against Salem-Keizer at Memorial Stadium.
Boise Hawks pitching coach Bob Apodaca (34) comes out visit with starting pitcher Pearson McMahan (23) during a difficult second inning in Wednesday’s game against Salem-Keizer.
BOISE — If this is the season that finally jump starts Luis Castro’s professional baseball career, he will likely be able to look to Wednesday.
The Boise Hawks designated hitter hit two home runs Wednesday in the Hawks home opener but an eighth inning solo home run by Salem-Keizer’s Diego Rincones broke a tie as the Volcanoes spoiled the Hawks’ home opener with a 6-4 win at Memorial Stadium.
Castro, who is in his fourth season in Boise, matched his home run total from all of last year, when he spent 25 games with Boise and 12 with Single-A Ashville. He hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the second inning, then led off the bottom of the fourth inning with a solo shot, tying the game at 3.
Boise found itself in an early hole when Salem-Keizer scored three runs in the top of the second inning. Will Albertson got the Volcanoes on the scoreboard with a bases-loaded single, and after a strikeout, Kyle McPherson drove in two more runs on a single, giving Salem Keizer the 3-0 lead.
But Matt Hearn’s defense stopped the run, as he tracked down a flyball in center field, then fired a rocket to L.J. Hatch at second base to double out McPherson, who had tagged up and was attempting to advance.
The Hawks got right back into the game in the bottom half of the inning with Castro taking a pitch over the left field wall for a two-run home run, cutting the deficit to 3-2. He tied it in the fourth, hitting the ball over the center field wall.
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But the Volcanoes retook the lead in the fifth inning with McPherson beating a throw at the plate to score on a Diego Rincones double.
L.J. Hatch tied the game on a two-out RBI double in the bottom of the sixth inning, scoring Danny Edgeworth. Edgeworth had reached base on a triple that had appeared to score Daniel Jipping, but Jipping was called out on a close play at home.
Rincones led off the eighth inning with a solo home run, giving the Volcanoes back the lead. Salem-Keizer added another run on an RBI bunt single by Mikey Edie to give the Volcanoes a two-run lead.
Jesus Tona pitched the final two innings for Salem-Keizer, keeping the Hawks off the board to earn the save.
Shelby Lackey earned the loss on the mound for Boise.
