Hops Clinch Fourth Straight Series vs. S-K
Published on August 19, 2015 under Northwest League (NWL1)
Hillsboro Hops News Release
The Hops' already formidable lineup added reinforcements on Tuesday, but it was two guys who've been there all year that lifted Hillsboro to their tenth win in 12 games against Salem-Keizer.
Hops' cleanup hitter Trevor Mitsui tied the game with an eighth-inning home run, his fourth in as many days, and infielder Sergio Alcantara walked with two outs in the ninth inning off Volcanoes' closer Caleb Smith (1-2) scoring on an error to give the Hops (13-7 second half, 35-32 overall) a 5-4 win at Salem-Keizer.
With the victory, the Hops clinch their fourth consecutive series win over the Volcanoes (10-10, 30-28) and drop their Marion County rivals three games back in the NWL South Division standings going into the final game of the series Wednesday.
Breckin Williams (1-0), who began the season as the highest-drafted pitcher on the Hops roster, came in to get a key out with the bases loaded in the eighth inning, then pitched a scoreless ninth for his first professional win. In the top of the ninth, Smith struck out the first two batters before walking Alcantara on a 3-1 pitch. After a wild pitch sent Alcantara to second, Dansby Swanson rolled a routine ground ball to second base that went between the legs of Junior Amion as Alcantara raced home with the go-ahead run.
Williams' draft status no longer seems so lofty, with the Hops adding 2nd-rounder Alex Young and number-one overall pick Dansby Swanson since breaking camp in June. Hillsboro's roster also boasts 2012 first-rounder Stryker Trahan. And joining Hillsboro Tuesday were two centerpieces of the 2014 team: fourth-round pitcher Brent Jones and Grant Heyman, an eighth-round pick in 2014, who led the Hops in batting during their championship season.
Both Jones and Heyman were in the starting lineup. Jones, completing a rehab assignment after missing nine weeks with an injury, pitched five innings and allowed three runs on six hits with three strikeouts and no walks. All three runs came on a Jose Vizcaino, Jr. home run to left field in the fourth inning that gave Salem-Keizer a 3-1 lead.
Heyman drove in the first run of the game on a grounder to third that plated Sergio Alcantara, who led off the contest wtih one of his three singles on the night. Heyman later doubled in the third inning and reached on an infield hit in the fifth. The Hops loaded the bases with none out in the fifth on consecutive singles by Gerard Hernandez, Joey Armstrong and Alcantara, tying the score on a Dansby Swanson sacrifice fly and a wild pitch that plated Armstrong.
The Volcanoes scratched out an unearned run in the seventh inning after a leadoff walk to Steven Duggar and a bunt base hit by Ronnie Jebavy. Miguel Gomez sent a deep fly to center, both runners advanced and Duggar scored when the throw to second glanced off Alcantara's glove for an error.
After Mitsui's eighth-innign blast to right tied the score at 4-4, the Volcanoes loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the inning. Bellow got Duggar to chase a third strike in the dirt before Williams came on to fave Jebavy, inducing a harmless pop to Alcantara in shallow right.
Alcantara led the way with three hits and two runs scored for Hillsboro's nine-hit attack. Vizcaino added a ninth-inning double to go with his home run before C.J. Hinojosa flied out to deep left center to end the game.
Wednesday's game will air live on Rip City Radio 620 AM with pregame airtime at 6:05 p.m. The Hops return to Ron Tonkin Field Thursday night for the first game of an eight-game home stand against the Boise Hawks and Tri-City Dust Devils.
Northwest League Stories from August 19, 2015
- Dust Devils Salvage Series Finale With 6-2 Win Over C's - Vancouver Canadians
- Indians Out-Rally AquaSox - Everett AquaSox
- Hops Clinch Fourth Straight Series vs. S-K - Hillsboro Hops
- Game Two Slips by Volcanoes - Salem-Keizer Volcanoes
- Hawks Outshine Emeralds 5-4 - Boise Hawks
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