A Walk in P.K. Park
July 20, 2016 - Northwest League (NWL1)
Hillsboro Hops News Release
With a commanding lead in the Northwest League standings, the Eugene Emeralds were in a most charitable mood Tuesday night.
Ems pitchers walked 17 Hops batters, a NWL season-high, as Hillsboro strolled to an 8-2 victory at P.K. Park to even the three-game series at a game apiece.
Eugene is still one win (or one Hops loss) away from clinching the first-half South Division title with six games remaining until the halfway cut-off.
Marcus Wilson already led the NWL in walks entering Tuesday night's contest. After tying a 56-year-old league record with six bases on balls, he now has 28, ten more than Tri-City's Chris Baker.
Despite reaching base six times, Wilson was able to score only once, as the Hops again struggled offensively, held to just five hits. One of those hits cleared the bases in the fourth inning as newest Hop Luis Silverio doubled with two outs to give Hillsboro a 4-2 lead.
Hillsboro starting pitcher Tyler Mark surrendered a two-run homer to Chris Pieters in the first inning, but locked down the Emeralds on two hits with no further runs over the next six innings to earn the win. Mark fanned nine batters to take over the NWL strikeout lead with 44, pushing teammate Anfernee Benitez into second place (42).
The Hops tacked on two more runs in the fifth inning on a two-RBI single by Mark Karaviotis and loaded the bases with none out for the second consecutive inning in the sixth, with Luis Veras driving in Ramon Hernandez with a sacrifice fly.
Manny Jefferson bookended the Hops' scoring with an RBI single in the second inning, scoring the Hops' eighth run of the game in the ninth when he walked and scored on a wild pitch. Jefferson reached base three times and scored twice, going 2 for 4 at the plate. Veras also scored a pair of runs for Hillsboro, walking twice. Silverio and Hops catcher Luke Lowery each walked three times.
Four different Eugene pitchers issued at least three bases on balls, led by starter Bryan Hudson (1-3), who doled out six free passes in four innings.
The Hops go for their fourth consecutive series win Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m. Live coverage on Rip City Radio 620 AM and ripcityradio.com begins with the pregame show at 6:35 p.m. 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 July 20, 2016
- Volcanoes Add Key Front Office Employee - Salem-Keizer Volcanoes
- A Walk in P.K. Park - Hillsboro Hops
- Salem-Keizer Drops Game to Boise 6-3 - Salem-Keizer Volcanoes
- Spokane's Bats Fall Silent in 1-0 Defeat - Spokane Indians
- Canadians Back In Tie For 1st After Shutout Victory - Vancouver Canadians
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.
