Hops Lose, and Gain
August 27, 2014 - Northwest League (NWL1)
Hillsboro Hops News Release
PASCO, WASH. --- The Hillsboro Hops lost for just the second time in their last 11 games on Tuesday night, falling 4-3 to the Tri-City Dust Devils. Yet Hillsboro inched closer to winning the second-half South Division title when Salem-Keizer lost at Spokane and Boise lost at home to Everett.
Hillsboro (21-11 2nd half, 43-27 overall) leads Salem-Keizer by three games and Boise by five with six games remaining in the season. The Hops' magic number is four over Salem-Keizer and one over Boise.
Hops starter Markus Solbach, pitching on his 23rd birthday, allowed four runs on six hits in the first three innings, including a solo home run by Tri-City's Denzel Richardson. Solbach retired the last 11 hitters to face him.
Hillsboro trailed 4-0 when Hops center fielder Taylor Ratliff tripled to right-center leading off the top of the fifth. Galli Cribbs Jr. followed with a sacrifice fly to make it 4-1.
In the top of the seventh, Elvin Soto walked and Justin Gonzalez hit his sixth home run (and first since July 12th), tying Kevin Cron and Jordan Parr for the team lead. The two-run blast to left field cut Tri-City's lead to 4-3.
Hillsboro threatened in the eighth when Pedro Ruiz singled and Stryker Trahan reached base on a wild pitch after striking out. But Steve Nyisztor flew out to center field to end the inning.
In the ninth, still trailing 4-3, Ratliff singled over short with two out. But with pinch-hitter Zach Esquerra at the plate, Ratliff was thrown out stealing by Dust Devils catcher Robbie Perkins to end the game.
Cron's franchise-record 14-game hitting streak came to an end. He was 0-for-4.
Tri-City (16-16, 30-40) remained tied with Vancouver atop the North Division (though Vancouver holds the tiebreaker). Everett is two games out, and first-half champ Spokane is three out.
The Hops have three more games at Tri-City, Wednesday through Friday nights at 7:15 PM. Each night's radio pregame show begins at 6:45 on Rip City Radio 620 AM and www.foxsportsradio620.com. The Hops return home on Saturday for a 5:03 PM game to open their final regular season series, against Eugene.
The Northwest League playoffs will begin on the road on Tuesday, Sept. 2. The Hops' first home playoff game is Wednesday, Sept. 3. Tickets available at www.HillsboroHops.com.
Note: Hillsboro's magic number over Boise is one because the Hops own the second-half tiebreaker over Boise. The Hops lead Boise by five games with six to play.
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Northwest League Stories from August 27, 2014
- 2014 Playoff Tickets Now On-Sale - Vancouver Canadians
- Hillsboro Hops at Tri-City Dust Devils - Hillsboro Hops
- Richardson's Homer Leads Tri-City to 4-3 Win - Tri-City Dust Devils
- Tendler's Homers Lift Indians to Victory - Spokane Indians
- Hops Lose, and Gain - Hillsboro Hops
- Tendler's Homers Lift to Win - Spokane Indians
- Canadians Extend Winning Ways To Three Games - Vancouver Canadians
- Everett Double up Hawks 4-2 - Boise Hawks
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