NWL1 Hillsboro Hops

Dezzi, Mitsui Take Two for the Team

Published on July 10, 2015 under Northwest League (NWL1)
Hillsboro Hops News Release


HILLSBORO, OR - They've been winning at home, just not in conventional ways. Playing their first home game since July 3rd, the Hillsboro Hops defeated the Spokane Indians 2-1 in the first game of a five-game series at Ron Tonkin Field. Keeping with the theme of the 2015 Hops, the pitching was spectacular, with terrific performances from Tyler Bolton and Ryan Burr.

Bolton got the start Thursday night as the Hops (12-10) played just their seventh home game in their first 22 contests. He delivered his finest start thus far this season, allowing just two hits while striking out six over six scoreless innings.He pitched beautifully, the North Carolina native wouldn't factor into the decision.

The Spokane Indians (12-10) wouldn't go away for the entire night. Hillsboro would strike first in the bottom of the third inning. Sergio Alcantara, mired in a 3-36 slump, singled to right, and advanced to second on a wild pitch by Spokane starter Blake Bass. Zach Nehrir would single in Alcantara on a two strike stroke to right to plate the opening run.

Bolton continued to cruise through his six innings, hanging zero after zero on the scoreboard. He was lifted in the top of the seventh, and perhaps relieved to see someone else on the mound, the Indians pounced on reliever Kevin Simmons.

Dylan Moore led off with a single to right, and moved to second on a Jamie Potts walk. Carlos Garay followed with a productive out, grounding to the pitcher to advance both runners into scoring position. The tying run crossed the plate for Spokane on a passed ball by Hillsboro catcher Jose Queliz.

Stuck in a tight spot, Simmons dealt to Spokane's Diego Cedeno who bounced one to Smith at third base. Smith fired home to Queliz to tag out the hard-charging Potts. Two down. After a Ti'Quan Forbes single and error by Simmons, Brody Greer entered for Hillsboro. He struck out Spokane's Yeyson Yrizarri to preserve the tie and end the threat.

With the game locked at one in the bottom of the 8th inning, Alcantara led off with another single, this one of the infield variety to Yrizarri. Nehrir walked to move Alcantara to second. Fernery Ozuna followed with a would bounce into a force play, with Forbes able to nab the lead runner at third.

What followed was unusual to say the least. With two outs and runners on first and second, Spokane reliever Jeffrey Springs hit Stephen Dezzi with a pitch. Bases loaded. Trevor Mitsui, fresh off a solid series in Everett, stepped in, and Springs hit him with another pitch to force in the winning run. That's right-back to back batters hit by pitches plated the second run for Hillsboro.

Ryan Burr struck out the side in the top of the 9th, working around a two-out single. Burr had entered in the 8th inning, and escaped a precarious situation with the game tied at one, when he retired Garay and Cedeno with the bases loaded.

The win moved Hillsboro's record to 12-10, identical to the Spokane Indians. With Eugene's win over Tri-City, Hillsboro's deficit in the Northwest League South Division remains two games.

Game two is tomorrow at Ron Tonkin Field at 7:05.

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Northwest League Stories from July 10, 2015


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