Hops Fall in Bottom of Ninth... Again
Published on June 28, 2015 under Northwest League (NWL1)
Hillsboro Hops News Release
VANCOUVER, B.C.-J.C. Cardenas singled to right field with two out in the bottom of the ninth inning on Saturday night, driving home the game-winning run in the Vancouver Canadians' 4-3 victory over the Hillsboro Hops. The Hops --- who entered the inning with a 3-2 lead --- lost in the bottom of the ninth for the third time in 10 games this season.
The inning began with an opposite-field single to left by Vancouver's Austin Davis. Ryan Metzler laid down a bunt along the first base line, and Hops reliever Ariel Hernandez tried to tag him, then threw the ball away, putting runners at first and third. A wild pitch scored the tying run, but after back-to-back strikeouts, Hernandez was an out away from sending the game to extra innings. Cardenas worked the count full --- including a 100-MPH fastball --- then pulled his game-ending base hit into right.
The loss drops the Hops (5-5) into a first-place tie with Eugene in the South Division. Vancouver (5-5) remains three games behind North Division-leading Everett.
Hillsboro struck first in the fourth inning, taking a 3-0 lead against Vancouver starter Dan Lietz. Stephen Dezzi was hit by a pitch, and Nate Robertson sacrificed and reached base on Leitz's throwing error. Then, with one out, Hillsboro notched three hits in succession --- a run-scoring single by Nate Irving, an RBI double by Sergio Alcantara, and an RBI single by Zach Nehrir on which the trail runner, Alcantara, was thrown out at the plate by Vancouver center fielder Earl Burl III.
Vancouver answered in the bottom of the fourth, as Lane Thomas hit a solo home run off Hops starter Jeferson Mejia. It was the only run Mejia allowed in his five innings.
The C's added another run in the sixth off Hops reliever Cameron Gann on a double, balk and a ground out, the only run Gann gave up in his three-inning stint.
Hillsboro wasted a golden opportunity to gain some insurance in the top of the ninth. After Quinnton Mack was hit by a pitch and Alcantara singled, Hillsboro had runners at first and second with one out. Nehrir, the league's leading hitter, flew out to center and Fernery Ozuna struck out.
Vancouver reliever Conor Fisk earned the win, tossing the final five innings without allowing a run.
Alcantara was 3-for-4, and has a Hops' season-high five-game hitting streak.
The middle game of the five-game series is Sunday at 1:05 PM. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.
Northwest League Stories from June 28, 2015
- Big Eighth Inning Dooms Emeralds, Snaps Win Streak - Eugene Emeralds
- Bats Silent for AquaSox in Loss to Boise - Everett AquaSox
- Hops Die with Their Boots - Hillsboro Hops
- Hawks Ride Six Early Runs to Victory - Boise Hawks
- Volcanoes Add Another 2015 Draft Pick - Salem-Keizer Volcanoes
- Canadians Extend Winning Ways To Three Straight - Vancouver Canadians
- Hops Lose 6-2 at Vancouver - Hillsboro Hops
- Big Lebowski Night with the Ems - Eugene Emeralds
- Good Karma Monday Returns - Eugene Emeralds
- Hops Fall in Bottom of Ninth... Again - Hillsboro Hops
- Volcanoes' Bats Come Alive, Snap Losing Streak - Salem-Keizer Volcanoes
- Hops Lose in Bottom of 9th for Third Time in 10 Games - Hillsboro Hops
- Emeralds Push Win Streak to Four, Take Down Tri-City 7-4 - Eugene Emeralds
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