Hops Take C's Series with Fourth Straight Win
August 8, 2021 - Northwest League (NWL)
Hillsboro Hops News Release
After being handcuffed in the first two games of their Battle Of The Boro series against Vancouver, the Hops closed out the series with some enlivened lumber.
Heritage Hops catcher Andy Yerzy led the way with three hits and a career-high five runs batted in as Hillsboro won its fourth straight game, knocking off the Canadians 7-5 Sunday at Ron Tonkin Field.
With three of the five scheduled series between the two Tonk co-tenants complete, the Hops hold a 10-8 edge over their Canadian counterparts.
Hillsboro dropped the first two games of the series, limited to a combined nine hits. But Sunday's 11-hit attack was their third game in four with double digit safeties.
Starting pitcher Justin Vernia (2-3) departed after 5 1/3 innings with a 5-3 lead. The C's closed to 5-4 with a run in the seventh before the Hops plated a pair of insurance runs in the ninth inning on a Tristin English sacrifice fly and Yerzy's RBI single.
The 7-4 ninth inning lead proved to be enough, despite some tense moments. With two outs in the last of the ninth, Vancouver's Zac Cook homered to right center off Hops releiver Wesley Rodriguez before a walk and single put the tying runs on base. But Rodriguez got Eric Rivera to line out to center field to preserve his first save of the season. The 5th-year pro from The Bronx became the ninth Hillsboro pitcher to record a save this season.
The Hops jumped on Vancouver starting pitcher CJ Van Eyk (3-6) for two runs in the first before Yerzy homered to right in the third, his first round-tripper in a month. The only glitch in the early-going for Vernia was a Luis De Los Santos solo homer in the second inning. The right hander from Issaquah, Washington allowed seven hits and three runs, two earned, with five strikeouts and no walks.
Yerzy finished the day 3-for-4 with a run scored. Eduardo Diaz had a pair of hits and three runs scored for the Hops. Jorge Barrosa also scored three runs and made a spectacular catch in left center field, crashing into the fence to rob Davis Schneider of an extra base hit.
Cook had a triple to go with his home run, scoring twice for the C's. Andres Guerra added three hits.
The Hops have a day off Monday before welcoming the red-hot Eugene Emeralds to Ron Tonkin Field for a six-game series beginning Tuesday night at 7:05 p.m. Pregame airtime will be at 6:50 p.m. on Rip City Radio 620 AM.
Northwest League Stories from August 8, 2021
- Ems Fall Flat in Series Finale, Miss Chance for Sweep - Eugene Emeralds
- Sunday's Game Postponed, Tickets Can be Exchanged for a Future Game - Spokane Indians
- Vancouver Drops Game, Series on Sunday - Vancouver Canadians
- Hops Take C's Series with Fourth Straight Win - Hillsboro Hops
- 'Sox Hold off Late Spokane Rally, 6-5 - Everett AquaSox
- The 'Sox Are Back in Town - Everett AquaSox
- Hops Three-Hit C's to Win Third Straight - Hillsboro Hops
- Spokane Winning Streak Ends with 6-5 Loss - Spokane Indians
- Pfaadt Dominates C's Again - Vancouver Canadians
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