Hops Blanked in Boise
Published on September 3, 2015 under Northwest League (NWL1)
Hillsboro Hops News Release
BOISE, IDAHO --- Hillsboro entered Wednesday night's game in Boise tied for the best season-long record in the Northwest League. Boise's record was the worst. But when the dust had settled, Boise came out with a 6-0 win --- their fifth victory in 11 games against the Hops.
Salem-Keizer came from behind to beat Eugene, so Hillsboro (19-15 second half, 41-31 overall) remains one game behind Eugene with four games remaining in the second-half pennant chase. The first-half champion Hops are trying to win both halves for the second straight year. Boise (15-19, 29-43) was eliminated from contention last weekend.
Boise's win was highlighted by a circus catch made by their right fielder, Marcos Derkes. In the top of the second inning, Hops catcher B.J. Lopez lofted a foul fly down the right field line. Derkes ran into the Boise bullpen and caught the ball on a dead run as he hit the three-foot-high chain-link fence, sending him flying head-over-heels out of play. He quickly held the ball up from the other side of the fence, and incredibly was unhurt.
Earlier, Derkes had scored the game's first run. He led off the bottom of the first inning by reaching base on a Dansby Swanson error, then scored on Jensen Park's double to make it 1-0. Park later scored on Terry McClure's base hit to right center. Both runs were unearned.
After laboring in the first inning for the second straight outing, Hops starter Tyler Bolton (2-4) settled in, at one point retiring 10 consecutive hitters. It was a solid, though unspectacular outing for a pitcher expected to start the Hops' third playoff game next week. Bolton allowed three runs, one earned, on four hits in five innings. He walked two and struck out three.
Leading 3-0, Boise added three runs off Hops southpaw Kirby Bellow in the sixth. With two out and none on, the Hawks strung together four consecutive singles by Luis Castro, Scott Burcham, Wesley Jones and Steven Leonard.
Ariel Hernandez came in for to get the final out, and Kevin Simmons and Alex Young each worked a scoreless inning for Hillsboro.
Hillsboro not only didn't score a run --- the fourth time this year they've been shut out --- they had just two runners in scoring position all night, and didn't get a runner to third base. The trio of David Hill (4 innings pitched), Drasen Johnson (3ip) and Logan Cozart (2ip) tossed a combined four-hitter.
Hillsboro will open this year's playoffs on Monday, on the road at either Eugene or Salem-Keizer. Game two of the best-of-three South Division series will be at Ron Tonkin Field on Tuesday at 7:05, and if necessary, game three will also be in Hillsboro on Wednesday.
But before entering the playoffs, Hillsboro has four games remaining in the regular season. The Hops conclude the series in Boise on Thursday evening. Right-hander Carlos Hernandez will take the hill for the Hops. In his final start of the regular season, Hernandez will be battling for the league ERA crown. He currently leads the league (among pitchers with enough innings to qualify) at 2.50. Salem-Keizer's Drew Leenhouts is second at 2.57.
First pitch on Thursday is at 5:45 Pacific time. The radio pregame show begins at 5:15 PM on Rip City Radio 620AM and www.RipCityRadio.com.
NOTES: Hops first baseman Trevor Mitsui's impressive streak came to an end --- he had driven home a run in seven consecutive games. ... Leadoff man and center fielder Zach Nehrir made his return to the Hillsboro lineup. In his first game at any level since suffering a bone bruise in his left wrist on July 29, Nehrir was 0-for-4. ... Wednesday's loss came on the one-year anniversary of Hillsboro's first-ever playoff game --- a 5-2 win in Boise on Sept. 2, 2014. The Hops would beat Boise 5-2 again the next night at Ron Tonkin Field in Hillsboro to sweep the series, en route to the Northwest League championship.
Northwest League Stories from September 3, 2015
- Hops Stomp Hawks 12-0 - Boise Hawks
- Eugene's De La Cruz Named Cubs' Minor League Pitcher of the Month - Eugene Emeralds
- Indians Fall in Extra Innings to AquaSox - Spokane Indians
- Hops Blanked in Boise - Hillsboro Hops
- Volcanoes Stay in Playoff Hunt, Beat Eugene 3-2 - Salem-Keizer Volcanoes
- Kennedy and Company Shut out Canadians - Tri-City Dust Devils
- Despite Allowing Just Two Hits Canadians Fall 1-0 - Vancouver Canadians
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