NWL Hillsboro Hops

Hops All In, Thump Tribe 11-6

Published on August 12, 2023 under Northwest League (NWL)
Hillsboro Hops News Release


It was truly a team effort for the Hillsboro Hops Friday night.

In front of a near capacity crowd of 6,488 on a fireworks night, the Hops built a big lead with a pair of four-run innings and overcame some wildness on the mound to defeat the Spokane Indians 11-6 at Avista Stadium.

By the halfway point, every Hop in the lineup had a hit, HIllsboro had a 10-4 lead and nearly two hours had elapsed thanks to multiple delays and long innings.

Speaking of long, Tommy Troy hit one of the longest home runs in league this year, a third-inning blast off Spokane starting pitcher that hit more than halfway up a light pole in left center field to tie the game 1-1. The blast was measured at 112 miles per hour off the bat and estimated distance was 468 feet according to the Spokane clubhouse manager. That puts it in the same ballpark as Ivan Melendez's first Hillsboro homer, which came in the same ballpark back in May. Press box denizens believed it was the longest home run in at least five years at the venerable yard.

But the Hops weren't done. After back-to-back walks to Gino Groover and David Martin, Christan Cerda smashed an 0-1 Victor Juarez pitch over the left field fence for his 10th home run of the season. The Hops had a 4-1 lead and they would not relinquish it, but not for lack of trying.

Yilber Diaz, starved for run support much of the season, could not control his pitch count, walking four batters and throwing two wild pitches over four innings. He had surrendered his 13th home run of the season to Parker Kelly leading off the bottom of the second inning to give the Tribe the first lead.

After the Hops plated two more runs in the fourth, including a double steal with Manuel Pena scoring and Troy taking second, the Indians loaded the bases with none out in the bottom of the inning. A wild pitch sent home Jamari Baylor, who had walked to lead off the inning. A sac fly and two-out Juan Guerrero RBI single later and the Indians were within 6-4.

But the Hops had another outburst in them. sending nine to the plate in the fifth against Spokane relievers Keegan James and Anderson Bido. Kevin Graham belted an RBI double to left center and Josh Day followed with a two-bagger. James departed with bases loaded and one out and Bido came on to strike out Troy. But Groover plated two with a bloop single to right and David Martin followed with his second consecutive two-out, RBI single and the Hops built a 10-4 lead.

Sadly, Diaz would not reap the benefits as he was pulled after four innings. Logan Clayton surrendered an unearned run in the fifth after a one-out walk, infield hit and throwing error. Then in the sixth, the righty reliever walked the bases full with two outs. Zach Barnes came in and forced in a run with another walk to Kelly before retiring Baylor on a fly out to center.

Thankfully, no more walks as Barnes pitched a scoreless seventh and Liam Norris finished the game with two perfect innings, fanning three to close out the win.

All nine Hops batters had a hit and all nine scored a run. Five different Hops had two hits and Groover finished with three RBI's, reaching base four times on a hit, two walks and hit-by-pitch. Pena, who tripled prior to stealing home in the fourth inning, scored twice as did Troy. The Hops outhit the Tribe 14-8.

The teams resume the series, now tied at two games apiece, at 7:05 p.m. Saturday night. Pregame coverage begins at 6:50 on Rip City Radio 620 AM.

Check out the Hillsboro Hops Statistics

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Northwest League Stories from August 12, 2023


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