Last-Place Boise Completes Sweep of Hops
August 23, 2015 - Northwest League (NWL1)
Hillsboro Hops News Release
Well, it had to happen at some point, right?
It had been 186 games --- since July 17, 2013 --- that the Hillsboro Hops had dropped four games in a row. That streak ended on Saturday night in Hillsboro as the Hops fell 6-4 to the Boise Hawks, who completed a three-game sweep; that the sweep came at the hands of the team with the poorest record in the Northwest League makes it doubly hard to swallow.
Boise (23-39 overall, 9-15 in the second half) scored first for the third straight game, plating two first-inning runs on a Terry McClure two-out single. The Hops (35-27 overall, 13-11 second half) got one back on a Trevor Mitsui RBI ground out in the bottom of the first.
The Hawks added a run in the fourth off Hops starter Tyler Bolton to make it 3-1. But in the bottom of the fourth, Hillsboro used four singles to score three times and take their first lead of the series, 4-3. Trevor Mitsui led off the inning with a base hit to left field to extend his hitting streak to eight consecutive games. Two outs later, Luis Veras singled to right, Alexis Olmeda singled to right to score Mitsui, and Galli Cribbs singled over short to score two.
Alas, the lead was short-lived. Bolton allowed just his third and fourth home runs all season (all four coming in his last three starts), back-to-back fifth-inning solo shots by McClure and Nate Causey to give Boise a 5-4 lead. Remarkably, it was the first time in the Hops' three seasons they have allowed back-to-back home runs.
Boise added a run in the seventh off Hops reliever Kevin Simmons to make it 6-4. Wilkyns Jimenez doubled home McClure, who had led off the inning with a base on balls.
Boise starter Colin Welmon left the game one out shy of qualifying for a win, and the Hops couldn't touch the Boise 'pen. Chad Zurat retired all four to face him, Craig Schlitter (who was given credit for the win) worked two perfect innings with four strikeouts, and Cristian Quintin struck out the side in the ninth, allowing only a one-out single to Luis Veras.
Alex Young, the Diamondbacks' second-round draft choice in 2015, looked sharp in his fourth Hops appearance, striking out two in a 1-2-3 ninth inning. He has allowed two hits and no runs in four innings with Hillsboro.
Tri-City comes to Ron Tonkin Field for a 4:05 tilt on Sunday, the opener of a five-game set. The series will pit the Northwest League's two first-half champions against one another in what could be a preview of the league's championship series. Both teams will have home-field advantage in their respective division series when the playoffs open in two weeks.
Sunday's radio pregame show begins at 3:35 PM on Rip City Radio 620AM and www.RipCityRadio.com.
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.
Northwest League Stories from August 23, 2015
- Emeralds Lose Lead Late vs. Spokane - Eugene Emeralds
- Uhl, Frogs Power Ahead to 7-2 Win - Everett AquaSox
- Canadians Open Crucial Five-Game Series With 7-2 Victory Over Boise Hawks - Vancouver Canadians
- Heyman Bids Adieu to Hops' 4-Game Slide - Hillsboro Hops
- Emeralds Open Final Homestand Tonight vs. Spokane - Eugene Emeralds
- Hops Look to End Season-Long 4 Game Slide - Hillsboro Hops
- Last-Place Boise Completes Sweep of Hops - Hillsboro Hops
- Indians Allow Seven in First, Fall to Canadians - Spokane Indians
- Last-Place Boise Completes Sweep of Hops - Hillsboro Hops
- Canadians Score Seven In 1st To Cruise To 11-3 Victory Over Spokane - Vancouver Canadians
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