Mejia's Turn: Hillsboro Shuts out Spokane--Again
July 14, 2015 - Northwest League (NWL1)
Hillsboro Hops News Release
HILLSBORO, OR -Pitching, pitching, pitching. The Hops led the Northwest League in team ERA entering play tonight by almost a full run. Hillsboro's ERA as a full team was 2.84, and Salem-Keizer was second at 3.82. So when Jeferson Mejia started for Hillsboro and shutout Spokane over six innings to lead the Hops to a 6-0 victory over the Spokane Indians, it wasn't surprising. It's the theme.
The staff of Tyler Bolton, Jared Miller, Cody Reed, Carlos Hernandez, and Jeferson Mejia combined to throw 34 shutout innings against the Spokane Indians in the five-game series. None of the Hillsboro five gave up a single earned run in the series, as the home team took four of the five games. In fact, the Indians tallied just eight runs all series, as Hillsboro outscored them 27-8.
It was Mejia's turn tonight, and he didn't disappoint after a couple of shaky outings to begin the season. He delivered six shutout innings to lower his ERA to 3.52 on the season. It was an impressive performance as he was visibly unsettled in the early-goings, searching for a rhythm. Then Hops pitching coach Doug Drabek came out for a visit, had a quick chat, and Mejia found his groove.
He was backed by a Hops offense that plated two each in the third and fourth innings each. Catcher Alexis Olmeda led off the third inning with a triple to right center field. All his hustle to third was appreciated but ultimately unnecessary, as third baseman Nate Robertson followed with a towering two-run home run to left field to bring home Olmeda and make it 2-0 for the good guys.
Two more came across in the bottom of the fourth when first baseman Josh Anderson led off with a single, and got to jog home when right fielder Gerard Hernandez followed with his first home run of the season just inside the right field foul pole.
With the pitching staff Hillsboro has, four runs is usually enough, but the Hops offense continues to come along also. Two more scored in the bottom of the eighth for Hillsboro on three singles, a groundout, and a passed ball.
After the late Spokane heroics on Sunday, the Hops bullpen would shut the door tonight, despite a late Indian effort to make it interesting. The visitors would load the bases, but Ledarius Clark, who entered the series leading the league in batting average, would strike out against Hops righty Cameron Gann to end the game and the series.
All told, it was a 6-0 victory, the Hops took four out of five, and another shutout was posted.
The Hops will enjoy their first off day of the season tomorrow, and it's earned. They played 26 games in 26 days with some long bus rides mixed in. Then it's off to Eugene for a critical series with pennant positioning on the line as Hillsboro, Eugene, and Salem-Keizer battle for Northwest League South Division supremacy.
First pitch at PK Park in Eugene will be at 7:05 on Wednesday, July 15. Tune into Rip City Radio 620 AM or www.ripcityradio.com at 6:35 PM to catch the pregame.
Northwest League Stories from July 14, 2015
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- Tri-City Adds to Win Streak with Victory over Eugene - Tri-City Dust Devils
- Canadians Swept By Volcanoes; Streak Reaches Nine - Vancouver Canadians
- Mejia's Turn: Hillsboro Shuts out Spokane--Again - Hillsboro Hops
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