Ems Trip Hops in Series Finale
Published on June 22, 2016 under Northwest League (NWL1)
Hillsboro Hops News Release
Eugene (4-2) outhit Hillsboro 13-5 on the way to an 8-1 series-clinching victory. Hillsboro fell to 2-4 as the Hops prepare for their first long road trip to Vancouver for the next five games.
For the fourth time in six games, Hops pitchers surrendered a dozen hits or more. The Hops had just 14 hits for the entire series after winning the previous night on just six hits.
Eugene center fielder Robert Garcia drew a leadoff walk in the first and scored on Matt Rose's dougle. Designated hitter Jose Paniagua followed with a single to right center to give the Emeralds all the runs they would need.
Right hander Pedro Silverio (1-0), making his NWL debut, allowed three hits in five innings with two strikeouts and three bases on balls. The Hops lone run of the game came off Silverio in the third inning when Matt McPhearson drew a leadoff walk, Billy Endris reached on a bunt base hit and Justin Chigbogu drove home McPhearson with a grounder through the right side for a base hit.
Despite the low hit total, the Hops had plenty of chances to put runs on the board in the game. Four Eugene pitchers combined to walk six batters and hit one, and the Ems committed one error. The Hops put the leadoff runner aboard in five consecutive innings from the second to the sixth and twice put the first two runners aboard, but could only push across one run. Hillsboro went 1-for-10 at the plate with runners in scoring position.
Leading 2-1 in the fourth, Eugene's Chris Pieters tried to stretch a one out bloop single to left into a double, but was thrown out at second by Hops' left fielder Matt McPhearson. But Wladimir Galindo and Tyler Payne followed with back-to-back singles against Hops' starting pitcher Anfernee Benitez. Yeiler Peguero followed with a single to right center that bounced off the glove of Hops' right fielder Matt Railey for a two-base error. Peguero would trot home on a wild pitch to give the Ems a 5-1 lead.
Benitez (1-1) was lifted after four innings, surrendering seven hits and five runs, four earned, with five strikeouts and two bases on balls.
Garcia reached base three times and scored three runs for Eugene. Paniagua was 2-for-5 with two RBI and Payne had three hits, finishing the series 5-for-8 with a double and a triple.
McPhearson went 1-for-3 and stole three bases to go with his outfield assist, however, the Hops speedster appeared to injure his thumb on a slide into third base in the seventh inning and was later removed from the game. Endris, making his first professional start in center field, reached base on four consecutive plate appearances, going 1-for-2 with three bases on balls and a steal.
The Hops play the first of five games at Vancouver's Nat Bailey Stadium Thursday night at 7:05 p.m. The Hops (2014-15) and Canadians (2011-13) have won the last five NWL championships. Hear all the action live on Rip City Radio 620 AM starting with the pregame show at 6:30 p.m.
Northwest League Stories from June 22, 2016
- Ems Trip Hops in Series Finale - Hillsboro Hops
- School Night and Weenie Wednesday with the Dust Devils - Tri-City Dust Devils
- Dust Devils Unable to Keep up with Indians in Second Game of the Series - Tri-City Dust Devils
- C's Respond To Opening Night Blowout With 6-5 Win - Vancouver Canadians
- Volcanoes' Drop Game 2 to Hawks - Salem-Keizer Volcanoes
- Hops Clean up Their Act at Home - Hillsboro Hops
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