Hops Drop Game, Division Lead
Published on July 2, 2015 under Northwest League (NWL1)
Hillsboro Hops News Release
Dane McFarland of the Hillsboro Hops
(Hillsboro Hops, Credit: Kevin N. Hume/Hillsboro Hops)
HILLSBORO, OR - For the first time this season, the fans at Ron Tonkin Field left the ballpark without a win. The Hillsboro Hops (7-7) fell to the Eugene Emeralds (8-6) by a 6-2 final score. The loss was the first at home this season, and it dropped the Hops out of a tie for first place in the Northwest League Southern Division.
Cody Reed was given the start for the Hillsboro Hops in the series opener, and struggled in comparison to his prior two starts. Entering with a 1-0 record and an earned run average under 1 through ten innings, he hit a snag against the Emeralds. He threw 5 1/3 innings, allowing 7 hits, six runs, (four earned) while walking one and striking out three.
Hillsboro's 2014 second rounder was opposed on the mound by another strong pitching prospect, Justin Steele of the Eugene Emeralds, who kept the Hops off balance all night, working six innings of one-run ball, striking out six. His Eugene teammates would provide him with enough offense to make that stand up against Hillsboro.
Eugene got their offense rolling in the top of the fourth inning against Reed. Eloy Jimenez led off with a solo shot to left, his second of the season. Following a fielding error by Hops first baseman Josh Anderson, Ems catcher Tyler Alamo singled the runner to third. An RBI groundout plated the second run of the evening. Then with two outs, Emeralds second baseman Frandy De Le Rosa stole second, and scored on a single by Ho-young Son.
The Hops would get one back in the bottom of the fourth when Dane McFarland doubled home Trevor Mitsui. McFarland was a strong point for the Hillsboro tonight, going 2-4 with the run batted in.
Trailing 3-1 in the bottom of the fifth, the Hops would creep closer. Sergio Alcantara just missed a home run, but settled for a double after the ball caromed off the left field wall. He moved to third on a Zach Nehrir ground out, and scored on a passed ball that went right through the wickets of Alamo, who would let three balls pass on the evening. That would be the final run for the Hops.
The Emeralds tacked on three more in the top of the sixth to put the game out of reach. Another single by Jimenez, his third hit of the night, started the rally, but three more singles and a walk accounted for a 6-2 Hops deficit.
Francisco Carrillo wouldn't let the Hops back into the game, and finished off the home team with three shutout innings.
Back at it tomorrow. The Hops will try to get game two against these same Eugene Emeralds and level up the series and the division.
Game time is 7:05 PM at Ron Tonkin Field. Pregame radio show at 6:35 PM on Rip City Radio 620 AM and at www.ripcityradio.com.
Images from this story
 Dane McFarland of the Hillsboro Hops (Kevin N. Hume/Hillsboro Hops) |
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