Hops Escape Volcanoes and Rain
July 26, 2015 - Northwest League (NWL1)
Hillsboro Hops News Release
HILLSBORO, OR - With the first-half flag already in tow, the Hillsboro Hops were still playing for something. In 2014's magical championship run, the Hops swept both halves en route to the title. Their record in the first half of that 2014 season? 22-16. With a nailbiting 4-3 victory over the visiting Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, the Hops finished the first half at 22-16, and champions of the Northwest League South Division. It was just in time, as a downpour began promptly after the final out was recorded.
The leader of the three-headed monster in Hillsboro's rotation, Jared Miller, got the start for the Hops, and performed as the home faithful have come to expect. Miller entered the game tied for the Northwest League lead in wins with 6, and after posting 7.1 innings of 3-run ball, he had done enough to earn his seventh victory. The seven victories broke the Hops record of six wins in a season, previously held by Ben Eckels.
The offense did their part to support the talented southpaw, posting two runs each in the 5th and 6th innings. Catcher Alexis Olmeda led off the 5th with a single to right center. Left fielder Gerard Hernandez was next, and he launched a moonshot over the right-center field fence, just outside the leaping attempt by Volcanoes right fielder Steven Duggar.
Leading 2-0, the Hops went back for more in the bottom of the 6th. With one out, Stephen Dezzi singled to center, and after an Olmeda strikeout, Hernandez followed with a double to left center. Nate Irving came through with a clutch 2-rbi single to chase home Hernandez and Dezzi. The two runs would prove to be very valuable.
Miller cruised through the first 21 outs, but encountered turbulence in the top of the 8th inning. Staked to a 4-0 lead, Miller walked Richard Amion, then hit back-to-back batters to load the bases with no outs. John Riley followed with an RBI groundout, then Christian Lichtenthaler hit a bounder to Ozuna, who booted the ball allowing another to score.
With one out, two in, and runners on the corner, Duggar lined a single to left to chase Miller from the suddenly stressful game. Ariel Hernandez entered for Hillsboro and retired Ronnie Jebavy and Scott Price to escape the frame with a 4-3 lead intact.
Hernandez remained in the game in the top of the 9th to close it out for the Hops. With one quick out, the fireballer walked Amion on four pitches. When the first two pitches to Pena were out of the zone, some worry started to creep into the back of the crowd's minds. Olmeda came out for a quick visit and seemed to settle Hernandez down, who rebounded to strike out Pena.
With two outs and a 2-2 count on C.J. Hinojosa, Hernandez fired ball three just over the head of the batter. Amion had broken for second. Olmeda reached up, and in a single, fluid motion, fired to second baseman Fernery Ozuna to nab Amion and file away another Hillsboro victory.
The second half officially begins tomorrow. It will be a 7:05 first pitch time at Ron Tonkin Field. Catch pregame radio on Rip City Radio 620 AM and at www.ripcityradio.com.
Northwest League Stories from July 26, 2015
- Hawks Steal One in Eugene - Boise Hawks
- Late Rally Falls Short in First-Half Finale - Salem-Keizer Volcanoes
- AquaSox Strand 13 in Loss to Canadians - Everett AquaSox
- Hops Escape Volcanoes and Rain - Hillsboro Hops
- Flag in Hand, Hops Suffer "Day-After" Loss in Boise - Hillsboro Hops
- Frogs Fall to Spokane Behind Beanballs - Everett AquaSox
- Salem-Keizer Tops Ems in Rubber Match - Salem-Keizer Volcanoes
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