NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, CFL stats



 Hillsboro Hops

Hops Drop Third Straight at Tri-City

August 2, 2015 - Northwest League (NWL1)
Hillsboro Hops News Release


PASCO, WASH. --- Yes, they've already secured the first-half championship and the accompanying postseason berth. But that's little consolation for what's happened the last three days. The Hillsboro Hops are entering uncharted --- and unwanted --- waters.

The Hops' normally solid bullpen hit another bump in the road in a 6-3 loss at Tri-City on Saturday night, Hillsboro's third consecutive defeat. It is just the third time in the last 149 games that the Hops have dropped three in a row.

Hillsboro's lack of offense continues to put pressure on the Hops' pen. On Saturday, they needed to be perfect. And they weren't.

Nate Robertson's solo home run in the bottom of the fifth off Tri-City starter Adrian De Horta put Hillsboro up 1-0. Hops starter Cody Reed left after four shutout innings and 72 pitches, having allowed just one hit, with two walks and four strikeouts. Taylor Clarke worked two scoreless frames, pitching out of a first-and-third, two-out jam in the sixth with help from a nice play at third from Galli Cribbs, Jr. Brody Greer worked around a leadoff walk in the seventh, striking out Kodie Tidwell with the tying run at second.

At that point, with Cameron Gann preparing for the eighth and Ryan Burr waiting in the wings for the ninth, you had to like Hillsboro's chances. But Gann, who had allowed just two runs in 18 innings all season, ran into immediate trouble in the eighth. Justin Pacchioli singled to right, Rod Boykin singled up the middle, and Peter Van Gansen bunted for a hit to load the bases with nobody out. Gann then hit Ty France with a pitch to tie the game 1-1.

After Carlos Belen struck out on a fastball over the inside corner, Gann was a potential double-play ball away from getting out of the inning with the tie intact. But Jose Carlos Urena lined a 1-1 pitch into right-center to score two and make it 3-1. Austin Allen then followed with an RBI single, a wild pitch brought home another run, and Nick Vilter belted a run-scoring double to make it 6-1. That was it for Gann --- six runs allowed in a third of an inning, three times as many as he had given up all season.

The Hops had an RBI single from Robertson in the top of the ninth, and another run came home on a double steal and an errant throw. After Sergio Alcantara drew a walk, Hillsboro actually brought the tying run to the plate, but Tri-City's Corey Kimber struck out Cribbs to end it.

For what it's worth, the loss, coupled with Boise's win, drops the Hops alone into fourth place for the first time since July 22, 2013 --- the last day of the first half of the franchise's inaugural season. Granted, Hillsboro is only two games out, and we're only six games into the half.

But they want to reverse this trend ASAP... and they feel as though they have the right pitcher teed up to do just that on Sunday. Right-hander Carlos Hernandez will get the ball for Hillsboro, with the potential for an historic outing. Hernandez has thrown 26 consecutive scoreless innings, six shy of the Northwest League record of 32 set by Larry Loughlin of Eugene in 1965, and tied by Joe Carboni, also of Eugene, in 1966.

Sunday's radio pregame show begins at 12:45 on Rip City Radio 620AM and www.RipCityRadio.com. Game time is 1:15. It will be the final game prior to the All-Star break. After Sunday, Hillsboro's next game will be Thursday at home vs. Boise. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.


• Discuss this story on the Northwest League message board...

Northwest League Stories from August 2, 2015


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central