Hops Fall in Topsy-Turvy Series Finale
August 16, 2015 - Northwest League (NWL1)
Hillsboro Hops News Release
HILLSBORO, OR - Saturday's contest was about as wild as it gets, but Sunday's game between the Vancouver Canadians and Hillsboro Hops did its best to match it. Both teams battled, but it was Vancouver who made the final rally to secure a 7-6 victory in the series finale. Hillsboro won the series by claiming the first, second, and fourth games of the five-game set.
Hillsboro (33-23, 11-7) sent Tyler Mark, Arizona's sixth round selection in 2015's draft, to the mound. He showed flashes of brilliance but also left some pitches up. All told, Vancouver (24-32, 8-10) tagged Mark for four runs, all earned, in 4.1 innings. Ariel Hernandez relieved him and closed out the fifth without allowing any further damage.
Vancouver got their first two runs in the top of the first when Ryan Metzler knocked a ground-rule double and Ryan Hissey followed with a two-run home run to right field. The wind was blowing out to right field all afternoon, and several hitters reaped the benefits.
The Hops broke through for a lone run in the bottom of the fourth inning when Stryker Trahan led off with a double - his first hit since being reassigned to Hillsboro - and Josh Anderson knocked him in with a single.
The visitors plated two more in the top of the fifth inning after a James Lynch single and a JC Cardenas home run, again to right center field to make it 4-1.
The two Vancouver runs seemed to tick off the Hops, who responded with an offensive explosion. After a one-out Stephen Dezzi walk, Sergio Alcantara singled to left. Dansby Swanson followed with a double over the right fielder, another solid knock the direction the wind was blowing, to plate Alcantara and Dezzi. Ever diligent on the basepaths, Swanson nabbed third on an attempted throw to the plate. It proved important as Alexis Olmeda followed with an RBI groundout to bring Swanson home.
With three in so far in the fifth to tie the game at four, Trevor Mitsui followed with his second home run in as many nights, again to right center field. The very next batter, Trahan, made it back-to-back homers with another deep drive to right center field. In a matter of minutes, the Hops went from trailing by three to leading by two, 6-4.
The lead didn't last. With Jeferson Mejia pitching for the home team, Josh Reavis drew a walk and scored on a home run to left field by Carl Wise to tie the contest at six. The teams combined for five round-trippers.
Zeroes were traded for a few frames, before Vancouver scored their seventh and final run in the top of the ninth. Justin Atkinson doubled to center to score Connor Panas, who was on second base by virtue of a Mejia throwing error.
Mejia's outing was not without its bright moments. In his four innings of work, he allowed two earned runs and struck out seven batters.
The Hops couldn't manage a rally in the bottom of the ninth, and the Canadians escaped Ron Tonkin Field with a 7-6 win.
Hillsboro is off to the I-5 South starting tomorrow with a three-game set at Salem-Keizer. It is a crucial series in the second-half pennant chase, as the result of the series may very well determine who the Hops face in the postseason. First pitch is at 6:35 PM tomorrow night at Volcanoes Stadium in Salem-Keizer. Pregame radio begins at 6:05 PM on Rip City Radio 620 AM and at www.ripcityradio.com.
Northwest League Stories from August 16, 2015
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- Canadians Snatch Series Finale From Hillsboro - Vancouver Canadians
- Volcanoes Drop Third Straight, Lose Series - Salem-Keizer Volcanoes
- Volcanoes Stunned Again in 11 Innings - Salem-Keizer Volcanoes
- Hops Fall in Topsy-Turvy Series Finale - Hillsboro Hops
- Fairbanks, Steady Offense Give Indians Win - Spokane Indians
- Hops Seek 10th Win in 13 Games - Hillsboro Hops
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- Canadians Erase Eight-Run Deficit Only To Lose In Extras - Vancouver Canadians
- Dust Devils Rough up Hawks - Tri-City Dust Devils
- Volcanoes Stunned Again in 11 Innings - Salem-Keizer Volcanoes
- Clark's Legs, Salem's Errors, Carry Indians - Spokane Indians
- Eloy Jimenez Helps Emeralds Walkoff vs. Everett - Eugene Emeralds
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