Another Split Decision as Hops Fall to Ems
August 15, 2021 - Northwest League (NWL)
Hillsboro Hops News Release
Sean Roby led off the eight inning with a home run to break a 3-3 tie and the Eugene Emeralds defeated the Hillsboro Hops 4-3 Sunday in the finale of their six-game series at Ron Tonkin Field.
It was the Eugene third baseman's second homer of the series, both off Hops reliever Wesley Rodriguez, and gave the Ems back-to-back wins over the Hops as they salvaged their fourth split in five series against Hillsboro this season. With the win, the Emeralds regained a 9 1/2 game lead over Hillsboro in the race for the High-A-West League's two playoff berths.
The Hops grabbed a 1-0 lead when leadoff batter Jorge Barrosa homered in the bottom of the first off Eugene starter Kai-Wei Teng, extending his hitting streak to ten games. Teng was otherwise masterful, holding the Hops in check until the sixth inning, while striking out nine with two walks.
Eugene pulled ahead in the sixth off Hops newcomer Austin Pope, recently called up from Low-A Visalia. Pope took over in the fourth inning for starter Shumpei Yoshikawa, who held Eugene hitless with four strikeouts and two walks over the first three innings. The righty from Bronxville, New York breezed through the fourth and fifth on just 11 pitches, but gave up a leadoff double to Heath Quinn in the sixth. Tyler Fitzgerald followed with a double to short. After checking Quinn and second, Blaze Alexander threw wide of first and Fitzgerald was safe on the error. Armani Smith drove home Quinn with a one-out single through the left side of the infield and Roby followed with a two-run double to right center putting Eugene up 3-1.
The Hops came right back in the bottom of the inning to tie the score when Cam Coursey reached on a leadoff infield hit and came home on Eduardo Diaz' double to the left field corner. After Andy Yerzy walked, Teng departed and Carlos Herrera took over on the hill. With Tristin English at the plate, both runners took off on the first pitch. Catcher Ricardo Genoves' throw skipped past Roby at third allowing Diaz to score the tying run.
After Roby's go-ahead homer to left in the eight, the Hops would have only one more baserunner against the Eugene bullpen. With the High-A-West League saves leader Chris Wright on the mound, Spencer Brickhouse drew a one-out walk to put the tying run on, but the second-year southpaw retired A.J. Vukovich on a harmless pop-up and Alexander grounded out to short to end the game.
Northwest League Stories from August 15, 2021
- Roby's Eighth Inning Blast Lifts Ems Over Hops - Eugene Emeralds
- Another Split Decision as Hops Fall to Ems - Hillsboro Hops
- Canadians' Power at the Plate Persists, 11-6 - Everett AquaSox
- Murphy Lays Down Law against Hops - Hillsboro Hops
- Canadians Attack Early, Often to Beat AquaSox - Vancouver Canadians
- Bats Roar Back to Life While Murphy Is Masterful on the Mound - Eugene Emeralds
- Bats Held Quiet on Saturday Night - Tri-City Dust Devils
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.
