NWL1 Hillsboro Hops

Hops Continue Mastery of Volcanoes

Published on August 18, 2015 under Northwest League (NWL1)
Hillsboro Hops News Release


Finally, a typical Tyler Bolton start was good enough.

The Hillsboro right hander pitched seven solid innings and the Hops (12-7 second half, 34-23 overall) produced double-digits in hits for the third consecutive game and back-to-back home runs for the second straight night in an 8-3 win at Salem-Keizer Monday.

Bolton (2-2) has been as reliable as Northwest rain (or, more apropos, August wildfires) since joining the Hops. But, after ten starts, the second-year pro from East Carolina was still looking for his first win in a HIllsboro uniform after suffering through bad luck and lack of run support, along with a couple of less than stellar outings. After fanning an uncharacteristic nine batters in his last start against Vancouver, Bolton struck out just two Volcanoes, allowing three runs on eight hits and two walks.

The Hops offense took care of him, lighting up a pitcher that had given them fits in three previous meetings. Nolan Riggs (3-2) entered the game having thrown 14 innings of shutout ball against Hillsboro this season, including a 7-0 win last week. But after scratching out an unearned run in the first, the Hops got to the big Texan righty, pounding out four runs in the third inning. Josh Anderson hit a two-run home run to left and Trevor Mitsui followed with a solo shot. Stryker Trahan nearly made it back-to-back-to-back jacks for the first time in Hops history, but his majestic blast down the right field line was ruled foul.

Down 5-0, the Volcanoes (10-9, 30-27) got to Bolton in the sixth inning for three runs, capped by C.J. Hinojosa's two-run homer to left, his third homer against the Hops this season and fifth overall. But the Hops got their five-run lead back with a run in the seventh and two more in the eighth.

Anderson went 3-for-5 at the plate and was one of eight Hops to score a run in the game. Batting leadoff for the first time in his third Hops start, center fielder Joey Armstrong was the only one in the lineup not to score, but contributed a hit, a walk and a sacrifice bunt in five plate appearances. Mitsui went 2-for-5 and has now homered in three consecutive games.

Ronnie Jebavy went 4-for-4 for the Volcanoes, but was tagged out between first and second after his fourth hit went off the top of the left field wall leading off the eighth. Jebavy thought he had his sixth home run of the season, but left fielder Gerard Hernandez fired the ball back into the infield and second baseman Galli Cribbs, Jr. chased down the Salem-Keizer center fielder and tagged him out.

The Hops and Volcanoes play the second game of their three-game series Tuesday night at 6:35 p.m. Michael Connolly is due to get the start for the Volcanoes. The Hops starter is to be determined. Pre-game airtime is at 6:05 p.m. on Rip City Radio 620 AM.

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Northwest League Stories from August 18, 2015


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