Hops Fall in Series Finale
July 8, 2015 - Northwest League (NWL1)
Hillsboro Hops News Release
The Everett Aquasox took a 4-1 lead early and held on to defeat Hillsboro 4-3 in the finale of their five-game Northwest League series at Memorial Stadium.
The Hops (11-10) and Aquasox (13-8) started early at 11:05 a.m. on Kids Day and Hillsboro scored early as they've done throughout the series. Zach Nehrir led off with a walk and scored on Trevor Mitsui's two-out base hit to put Hillsboro up 1-0.
But the Aquasox scored single runs in the first, second and third innings, while the Hops kept the pressure on Everett starting pitcher Luiz Gohara, but could not get the necessary run-producing hits.
The frustration culminated in the fourth inning, when Hillsboro loaded the bases with one out on a Nate Irving double and a pair of walks, but Nehrir grounded into an inning-ending double play.
Gohara was out after allowing six hits and four walks through four innings and Hillsboro got rolling in the seventh inning against lefty reliever Taylor Byrd. Down 4-1, this time they delivered back-to-back bases-loaded singles from Nate Robertson and Irving to pull within 4-3. Troy Scott came on to replace Byrd and got a force at home and a strikeout to end the threat.
Scott pitched a scoreless eighth and Kyle Wilcox retired the side in order in the ninth to polish off the Aquasox second straight win over Hillsboro.
Irving finished 3 for 4 with a double and an RBI. Stephen Dezzi doubled and walked twice, scoring a run to lead Hillsboro. The Hops outhit the Aquasox 10-7, but left 12 runners stranded on base, all in the first seven innings. Jefferson Mejia suffered the loss, allowing three earned runs over five innings with two strikeouts and two bases on balls.
Corey Simpson drove in three runs for the second straight game for Everett to run his season total to 21.
The Hops return to Ron Tonkin Field Thursday night for the first game of a five-game home series against the Spokane Indians. First pitch will be at 7:05 p.m. with pregame coverage beginning at 6:35 p.m. on Rip City Radio 620 AM.
Northwest League Stories from July 8, 2015
- American Mascot Association Cancels Mascot Mania - Boise Hawks
- Hops Fall in Series Finale - Hillsboro Hops
- Simpson Drives in 3, Frogs Win 2nd Straight - Everett AquaSox
- Sunday's Game to be Nationally Televised - Hillsboro Hops
- Salem-Keizer Falls in 11 Innings - Salem-Keizer Volcanoes
- Moore Fans Five as AquaSox End Hops Streak - Hillsboro Hops
- Martinez's Performance Carries Indians in Win - Spokane Indians
- Frogs Snap Losing Streak, Top Hops 7-4 - Everett AquaSox
- Canadians Drop Third Straight In Eugene - Vancouver Canadians
- Emeralds Use Big First Inning to Sink Vancouver - Eugene Emeralds
- Indians Down Hawks On Fielder's Choice - Boise Hawks
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
