Hops Fall on Controversial Call
August 28, 2015 - Northwest League (NWL1)
Hillsboro Hops News Release
HILLSBORO, OR - The Hops were battling in the bottom of the ninth, looking to recover from their second deficit of the night. They were stirring the pot, attempting to rally with Sergio Alcantara at bat and Nate Irving and Alexis Olmeda on first and second. A controversial check-swing strikeout ended the threat and the game, with the tilt going to Tri-City 5-3 on Thursday night.
Hillsboro (38-29, 16-13) was playing from behind most of the night, falling behind early then rallying to tie it at 3. After Tri-City (35-32, 13-16) jumped back ahead with single runs in the fifth and ninth, the Hops fell short in the end.
Tyler Bolton, Hillsboro's workhorse, was given the start and couldn't find his command. He couldn't escape the first inning after walking two and hitting two batters, but he didn't allow a hit and was only pegged with one earned run. Kirby Bellow entered with the sacks full and two outs, and got the Hops and Bolton out of the mess.
Bellow hit some trouble in the third on three hits, a walk and a wild pitch to fall behind 3-0.
The Hops struck back in the bottom half of the inning for three runs. Joey Armstrong singled to snap an 0-for-19 skid and Alcantara followed with another single. Grant Heyman reached on an error to load the bases with one out. Trevor Mitsui, the hero of the previous two games knocked a sacrifice fly to right field, and Josh Anderson and Luis Veras kept the rally going with 2-out RBI singles.
Tucker Ward entered to pitch for the Hops, and was unfortunately the losing pitcher of record despite pitching admirably. He threw three innings, allowing two hits and one walk, but allowed an earned run. The Hops offense couldn't scrape a run together to get Ward off the hook.
Hillsboro had a menacing threat brewing in the bottom of the ninth facing a two-run deficit. Nate Irving singled with one out. He was 2-4 to raise his average to .290. After Olmeda walked, the Hops were in business with two on and only one gone.
Joey Armstrong hit a flare to right field for the second out. Alcantara had the opportunity to extend the game next, and with a 1-2 count, Alcantara flinched towards a breaking ball. It was deemed a swing by base umpire Tom West, and the threat hit a screeching halt. Both teams appeared to be confused in the aftermath of the strike call, but the call would stand and the game was over.
The Hops took three out of five to claim the series and tomorrow will open a three-game set with Eugene. The Hops and Emeralds have the top two records in the Northwest League South and could face each other in the first round of the playoffs.
First pitch tomorrow is at 7:05 PM from PK Park. Pregame is 6:35 PM on Rip City Radio.
Northwest League Stories from August 28, 2015
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- Hops Fall on Controversial Call - Hillsboro Hops
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