Hops Beat Boise 4-1, Magic Number Now 1
July 24, 2015 - Northwest League (NWL1)
Hillsboro Hops News Release
BOISE, IDAHO --- Pitching, pitching, and more pitching. That pretty much sums up Hillsboro's season.
Oh, and just enough hitting to get by.
Carlos Hernandez allowed just one hit and one walk in six shutout innings, and Hillsboro (20-15) won the series opener 4-1 on Thursday in Boise over the Hawks (12-23). The only hit Hernandez allowed came with two out in the fifth inning, a clean single by Boise's Luis Castro. Hernandez's ERA fell to 1.47, which places him third in the Northwest League behind teammates Jared Miller (1.33) and Cody Reed (1.37).
The victory dropped Hillsboro's magic number to two --- any combination of Hops wins and Salem-Keizer losses totaling two, and Hillsboro wins the first half title and a playoff berth in September. At time of posting, Salem-Keizer was playing their series-opening game in Eugene. After today, each team has three games remaining in the half.
The Hops wasted a leadoff triple by Fernery Ozuna in the first inning, and a leadoff double by Alexis Olmeda in the second. But they finally broke through against Boise starter Jack Wynkoop in the fourth. Zach Nehrir singled, and with one out, Olmeda doubled again to put runners on second and third. Luis Veras' RBI ground-out made it 1-0, and after Nate Irving walked, Jeff Smith had the biggest hit of the game --- a booming double to left-center to score two and make it 3-0.
Hillsboro added a run in the top of the ninth on an RBI single by Gerard Hernandez.
That would be plenty for Carlos Hernandez (2-1) and reliever Troy Marks. Marks worked the final three innings, and didn't allow a base runner until Boise's Steven Leonard doubled with one out in the ninth. Leonard scored on Marcos Derkes' two-out single, spoiling Hillsboro's effort at their fifth shutout in 12 games. But Marks retired number-three hitter Kevin Padlo on a fly out to deep center field to end the game. Marks earned his first save.
Game two of the three-game series is Friday night in Boise at 6:15 Pacific. The radio pregame show begins at 5:45 on Rip City Radio 620AM and www.RipCityRadio.com.
Northwest League Stories from July 24, 2015
- Eugene Emeralds to Wear Civic Stadium Tribute Uniforms - Eugene Emeralds
- Craig Schlitter Added to Boise Hawks Roster - Boise Hawks
- C's And Tri-City Rained Out; Doubleheader Saturday - Vancouver Canadians
- Late Homer Stuns Volcanoes - Salem-Keizer Volcanoes
- C's canâ??t stop Dust Devils surge toward post-season, drop first game in past five - Vancouver Canadians
- Hops Beat Boise 4-1, Magic Number Now 1 - Hillsboro Hops
- AquaSox Bats Back up Masterful Pitching - Everett AquaSox
- Emeralds Beat Salem-Keizer on Dewees' Two-Run Homer - Eugene Emeralds
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