Canadians Stifle Hops for 3-2 Win
June 26, 2016 - Northwest League (NWL1)
Hillsboro Hops News Release
VANCOUVER, B.C. --- Just one day after a 12-2 thrashing of the Canadians, the Hillsboro Hops mustered only five hits in a frustrating 3-2 loss on Saturday night at Nat Bailey Stadium. Hillsboro (3-6) fell three games out in the South Division of the Northwest League --- the first time the Hops have been more than two games out since August 19, 2013.
Vancouver starter Patrick Murphy earned his first professional win in just his second start after suffering through three seasons of injuries. Murphy --- the Blue Jays' third-round draft pick in 2013 out of high school in Chandler, Arizona --- had missed all of 2013, 2014 and 2015 to various arm and rib-cage issues. Sporting a 94-mph fastball, he allowed just two runs on four hits in six innings.
The Canadians scored twice in the first inning against Taylor Wright, keyed by a two-out, 10-pitch walk drawn by second baseman Cavan Biggio. Three successive singles followed, the final two --- by Christian Williams and Juan Tejada --- driving home runs. Vancouver added a run in the second on a sacrifice fly by Yeltsin Guldino.
Hillsboro got a run back in the third inning. Nic Coffman doubled to right-center field, and Manny Jefferson singled him home to cut the Canadians' lead to 3-1. A single by Max Brown put runners at the corners with one out, but Marcus Wilson flew out to shallow right and Luis Veras grounded out.
In the fourth, Hillsboro first baseman Luke Lowery doubled down the right field line and later scored on a sac fly by Alexis Olmeda to make it 3-2.
That would be all the Hops would get, though they had their chances. Vancouver --- and particularly Biggio, son of Hall-of-Famer Craig Biggio --- came up big defensively.
For a moment, it looked as though Biggio would be the goat. His error on a routine ground ball in the fifth allowed Manny Jefferson to reach base with the potential tying run. On the next pitch, Jeff Smith smoked what looked to be a sure base-hit to right. Biggio dived headlong toward the hole, snared the ground ball, and turned it into a 4-6-3 double play.
Hillsboro ran into problems in the seventh... literally. After drawing a leadoff walk, Hops DH Justin Chigbogu tried to take second on a ball in the dirt and was thrown out by catcher Javier Hernandez. Coffman singled, but was then caught stealing by Hernandez to end the inning.
Jefferson led off the eighth inning for the Hops against his former Pepperdine teammate Jackson McClelland. Jefferson ripped a liner right at third baseman Bryan Lizardo. One out. Smith then grounded one hard under Lizardo's glove for a two-base error. And after a McClelland wild pitch, Hillsboro had the tying run on third base with one out.
Vancouver brought the infield in, but Brown struck out looking for the second out, and Wilson grounded out to short.
That would be the last chance the Hops would get. Canadians closer Jackson Lowery worked a 1-2-3 ninth to pick up his third save.
Wright allowed three runs on nine hits (eight singles) in five innings. The Hops got solid relief, with Riley Smith, Kirby Bellow and Nick Blackburn each working a scoreless frame.
Hillsboro will try to even the series at two games apiece on Sunday at 1:05. The pregame show from Nat Bailey Stadium begins at 12:35 on Rip City Radio 620 AM and www.RipCityRadio.com. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.
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Northwest League Stories from June 26, 2016
- C's Take Series with 5-1 Win - Hillsboro Hops
- Riley Leads Volcanoes' Fast Start - Salem-Keizer Volcanoes
- Canadians Win Second Straight Over Hillsboro - Vancouver Canadians
- Canadians Stifle Hops for 3-2 Win - Hillsboro Hops
- Volcanoes Fall Despite Three Hits from Fulmer - Salem-Keizer Volcanoes
- Canadians Bounce Back Against Hops With 3-2 Victory - Vancouver Canadians
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