Hops Avoid Sweep, Take Game Six 9-5
June 11, 2023 - Northwest League (NWL)
Hillsboro Hops News Release
Hillsboro, OR - The Spokane Indians entered Sunday's game at Ron Tonkin Field looking for their first ever six-game sweep. In yesterday's game, Hillsboro had a 9-2 lead and proceeded to allow 11 unanswered runs, losing by a final score of 14-12. In the final game of the series Hillsboro jumped out to another 7-2 lead, this time, holding onto the lead in a 9-5 win.
The Hops would take another early lead, chasing the Spokane starter in the first inning for the second time in the series. Brayan Castillo needed 39 pitches to record just two outs, allowing three earned runs on two hits and four walks in the first inning. Four consecutive Hops' batters walked, chasing him from the game. Mason Green came in out of the pen to get the final out, keeping the Hillsboro lead at 3-0.
Yilber Diaz breezed through the first two frames against the tough Spokane lineup, but ran into trouble with two outs in the third. The Indians put together three straight hits, capped off by a Yanquiel Fernandez triple. Fernandez hit the ball to the left center field gap, when Johnson and Patino collided, allowing the ball to roll all the way to the wall. The triple brought home two runs and was the third triple of the year for Fernandez and RBI 60 and 61.
Hillsboro added to their lead in the fourth, scoring four runs on two hits and four walks. Josh Day had a two-RBI single with the bases loaded to score the first two, then a walk and fielder's choice scored two more, extending the lead to 7-2 after four.
Yilber Diaz exited after throwing 82 pitches in four innings, allowing two earned runs and striking out five.
The 8th home run of the series for Spokane came off the bat of Nic Kent in the sixth, his fourth of the season.
One of the best fielding teams in Minor League Baseball, Spokane, had two errors on one play that scored two more runs for the Hops in the sixth. A pop fly by Channy Ortiz was dropped by Aiverson Rodriguez and then a throwing error by Adael Amador followed. The Hops led 9-3.
A single, walk and walk loaded the bases with none out for Fernandez in the seventh. Peniel Otano was on the mound facing Fernandez and struck him out on a high fastball. Fernandez has the lowest strikeout rate in the league. The Indians would score two more runs on a pair of balls that didn't leave the infield, brining the score to 9-5.
Wilderd Patino and Josh Day led the way offensively for the Hops in the win. Wilderd Patino was three-for-four with two runs scored and Day was two-for-four with two runs scored and three RBI. The Hops were 3-for-15 with runners in scoring position, despite scoring nine runs in the game.
The Hops will hit the road to Vancouver for a six-game series with the Vancouver Canadians. Game one of the series will be on Tuesday at 7:05, with the pregame show live at 6:50 on Rip City Radio 620.
Northwest League Stories from June 11, 2023
- Ninth Inning Rally Comes up Short; Sox Lose 10-6 - Everett AquaSox
- Offense Carries C's to Series Win - Vancouver Canadians
- Tri-City Doubles up Eugene to Take Series - Tri-City Dust Devils
- Hops Avoid Sweep, Take Game Six 9-5 - Hillsboro Hops
- Emeralds Drop Series Finale against the Dust Devils - Eugene Emeralds
- Series Finale Concludes on Sunday Fun Day - Everett AquaSox
- No-No Highlights Doubleheader Sweep - Vancouver Canadians
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