Extra Credit
August 11, 2016 - Northwest League (NWL1)
Hillsboro Hops News Release
After nine home runs in five days at Everett, the Hillsboro Hops offense experiened a slight power glitch Tuesday night at Boise. Power was restored by the time the Hops reached Memorial Stadium Wednsesday night.
The Hops offense was explosive with eight of Hillsboro's 12 hits going for extra bases in a 9-5 victory. The win evens the series at 1-1 and gives the Hops a shot at a winning road trip and their eighth series victory in nine when they play the rubber match Thursday night. Hillsboro (8-5 2nd half, 27-24) remains tied atop the Northwest League's South Division with Eugene. Boise fell two games back at 6-7, 22-29 overall.
Hillsboro leadoff batter Jason Morozowski went 3-for-4 with a homer, double, two RBI and three runs scored. Former Oregon Duck shortstop Mark Karaviotis had a three-run homer in a five-run second inning and doubled and scored in a three-run sixth. Alexis Olmeda went 3-for-5 with a double and a run scored.
After falling behind 8-0, Boise made things interesting with four runs in the bottom of the sixth and another in the seventh before Hops releivers Kevin Ginkel and Curtis Taylor polished off the Hawks in the eighth and ninth with two scoreless innings of relief.
Anfernee Benitez (5-4) returned to the Hops' starting rotation and won his third consecutive decision. Benitez had a string of 16 2/3 scoreless innings snapped on Willie Abreu's RBI double in the sixth. That ended the Hops' lefty's night after 5 1/3 innings. Benitez allowed six hits and four walks with four strikeouts and three earned runs allowed. With runners at second and third, Hops reliever Tommy Eveld surrendered a two-run double to Wes Jones, who later scored on a ground out to cut the Hops lead to 8-4.
A Daniel Suero triple and run scoring groundout by Steven Linkous in the seventh inning snipped the Hops' advantage to 8-5 before Morozowski's solo home run in the eighth accounted for the final score.
The Colorado Rockies' top pick in the draft, right-handed pitcher Robert Tyler, made his professional debut last night. The former Georgia Bulldog walked the first two batters of the game and fell behind Josh Anderson 3-0, before getting a double play and a ground out to third to end the inning.
Rico Garcia (0-2) took over in the second and the Hops teed off, batting around with four doubles and Karaviotis' home run to right. Morozowski, Stephen Smith and Anderson each doubled consecutively with two outs. Hillsboro again got back-to-back doubles in the sixth inning from Karaviotis and Adam Walton. Morozowski added an RBI single and scored later on a wild pitch to make it 8-0 Hillsboro.
Benitez limited the Boise running game by catching two runners trying to steal on pickoff throws and also picked Jacob Bosiokovic off first base in the fourth inning. The Hops defense turned three double plays and did not commit an error, while Boise's three errors led to four unearned runs.
The rubber match of the series starts at 6:15 p.m Thursday night. Pregame airtime is 5:45 p.m. on Rip City Radio 620 AM. The Hops return home Friday, August 12 to open a five-game series against the Vancouver Canadians. Friday's series opener will also be telecast on regional cable on Comcast SportsNet Northwest at 7:00 p.m. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.
Northwest League Stories from August 11, 2016
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