NWL1 Hillsboro Hops

Hops Can't Light the Fire in Tonkin Opener

Published on June 21, 2016 under Northwest League (NWL1)
Hillsboro Hops News Release


The Hillsboro Hops players were introduced to their fans by racing from the home dugout between two spires of flame in a pregame pyrotechnic display. Unfortunatly, the Hops were unable to ignite anything on offense Monday night.

Limited to just one hit and two baserunners through the first eight innings against Eugene pitchers Manuel Rondon and Jon Knighton, the Hops fell to the Emeralds 6-0 in their home opener at Ron Tonkin Field.

Eugene's D.J. Wilson beat out a two-out chopper over the mound in the third inning and Andruw Monasterio followed with a two-run home run to left off Hops starting pitcher Taylor Wright for the first runs of the game.

Wright, an undrafted free agent making his first start since the end of the 2015 college season at Houston Baptist University, was sharp in his Hops debut. The right hander struck out a Hops season-high nine batters without a walk in five innings.

Eugene took a 3-0 lead in the fifth when Yeiler Peguero hit a leadoff double down the third base line and scored on Wright's errant throw on a sacrifice bunt by Robert Garcia.

The Emeralds extended the lead with three runs in the sixth off Hops reliever Jake Winston, taking advantage of two more Hops errors, a wild pitch and a passed ball. Wladimire Galindo had an RBI single and Ricardo Marcano plated two with a base hit, one of four allowed in the inning by Winston.

Down 6-0 in the ninth, the Hops put two runners aboard on back-t0-back infield singles by Matt McPhearson and Anfernee Grier. Grier, the Diamondbacks top pick in this year's draft, went 1-for-4 with a strikeout in his professional debut as the Hops' designated hitter. The momentum wouldn't last as Billy Endris grounded into an inning-ending double play.

The Hops only other baserunners came in the third inning, when Manny Jefferson lined a shot through the shortstop hole for a base hit off Rondon and McPhearson hit a grounder to second that skipped off Peguero's glove for an error. Like the ninth inning, a double play snuffed the rally as Grier hit a bounder toward second, leading Peguero over the bag for the force, the throw back to first across his body just beating the speedy Auburn product.

Eugene catcher Tyler Payne doubled and tripled and Peguero also had a pair of hits for the Emeralds, who outhit the Hops 9-3. Hillsboro has been outhit 35-14 in the last three games and has committed 11 errors in three consecutive losses.

The Hops will try to end their skid Tuesday night in game two of the series as Colin Poche makes his first professional start on the mound against Eugene's Jesus Castillo. Game time is 7:05 p.m. at Ron Tonkin Field with the pregame shot on Rip City Radio 620 AM beginning at 6:30 p.m.

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Northwest League Stories from June 21, 2016


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