Flag in Hand, Hops Suffer "Day-After" Loss in Boise
July 26, 2015 - Northwest League (NWL1)
Hillsboro Hops News Release
BOISE, IDAHO --- It wasn't as if they played horribly. But a day after winning the South Division first-half title and enjoying a raucous champagne celebration, the Hillsboro Hops (21-16) lacked a key hit or two in a 5-2 loss to the last-place Boise Hawks (13-24).
Tyler Bolton pitched into the seventh inning, allowing 10 hits and four runs, all earned. Though the right-hander (0-2) doesn't have a win in 2014, he has pitched effectively, and Hillsboro was 4-3 in games he started en route to winning the South. (Bolton has now given up 55 hits in his eight starts --- 51 singles, three doubles and a triple.)
Each team left the bases loaded in the early innings --- Boise in the bottom of the second, and Hillsboro in the top of the fourth.
The Hops broke the scoreless tie against Boise starter Javier Palacios in the top of the fifth. Galli Cribbs drew a walk, and scored from first on Zach Nehrir's double (one of Nehrir's three hits in the game). Two outs later, Nehrir scored on a two-bagger from Trevor Mitsui (who also had three hits). It was 2-0 Hops, but on Gerard Hernandez's single, Mitsui was cut down at the plate by Boise right fielder Brian Carroll to end the inning.
The Hawks came right back in the bottom of the fifth. Steven Leonard bunted for a base hit and advanced to third on third baseman Nate Robertson's throwing error. Carroll tripled to drive Leonard home --- for Carroll, his second of four hits. Carlos Herrer then collected his second of four hits to drive home Carroll and tie the game. Two batters later, Kevin Padlo's ground out gave Boise a 3-2 lead. It could have been worse, but Nehrir made a highlight-reel throw from center to cut down Marcos Derkes and complete an inning-ending double play.
Hillsboro continued to struggle in key spots. They again loaded the bases with none out in the seventh, but didn't score. For the second straight game, they left 11 on base. The Hops were 3-for-12 with one RBI with runners in scoring position.
Right-hander Alec Kenilvork worked 2.1 scoreless innings in relief of Palacios to bag the win. Bolton took the loss, and right-hander Taylor Black tossed a 1-2-3 ninth to earn his fourth save.
Hops catcher Jose Queliz went 2-for-4 with a double to extend his hitting streak to seven games.
The Hops, after an overnight bus trip, are at home on Sunday afternoon at 4:05 to open a three-game homestand against the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes. It will be the final game of the first half; on Monday, all teams' records revert to 0-0 for the second-half race. (Last year, Hillsboro won both halves prior to winning the league title.)
Sunday's radio pregame show begins at 3:35 Pacific on Rip City Radio 620AM and www.RipCityRadio.com.
Northwest League Stories from July 26, 2015
- Hawks Steal One in Eugene - Boise Hawks
- Late Rally Falls Short in First-Half Finale - Salem-Keizer Volcanoes
- AquaSox Strand 13 in Loss to Canadians - Everett AquaSox
- Hops Escape Volcanoes and Rain - Hillsboro Hops
- Flag in Hand, Hops Suffer "Day-After" Loss in Boise - Hillsboro Hops
- Frogs Fall to Spokane Behind Beanballs - Everett AquaSox
- Salem-Keizer Tops Ems in Rubber Match - Salem-Keizer Volcanoes
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