Moore Fans Five as AquaSox End Hops Streak
July 8, 2015 - Northwest League (NWL1)
Hillsboro Hops News Release
The Hillsboro Hops couldn't make lightning strike twice at Everett.
Trailing 7-4 in the ninth inning, the same score they faced in the ninth in a dramatic comeback Saturday, the Hops' potential rally was snuffed on a baserunning error and the Aquasox (12-8) hung on for the win.
It was Everett's first win of the five-game series after three straight Hops victories and put an end to both the Aquasox' four-game losing streak and the Hops' four-game winning streak.
Hillsboro's Zach Nehrir hit his first professional home run on the second pitch of the game from Everett starter Anthony Misiewicz. That would be Hillsboro's only lead.
The Aquasox jumped in front 2-1 on Corey Simpson's 2-run homer to right in the fourth inning only to have the Hops (11-9) pull even on a double steal, with Fernery Ozuna breaking for home on Jeff Smith's steal of second, scoring easily when catcher Adam Martin's throw skipped into center field.
The run was charged to Andrew Moore, the former Oregon State and North Eugene High School star, who was drafted in the compensatory round by the Mariners following an All-America junior season for the Beavers. Moore allowed two hits and one earned run in three innings with five strikeouts. In four appearances and 11 innings with the Aquasox, Moore has allowed just one earned run and eight hits with 16 strikeouts and no walks. After throwing over 100 innings for the Beavs this year, it's unlikely that Moore will throw enough innings to qualify for a win as a starter. He entered the game in the fourth inning out of the bullpen.
The teams traded blows again in the late innings, with Everett jumping ahead 4-2 with two runs in the seventh only to see the Hops respond with a two-run rally in the top of the eighth. Reliever Matt Clancy's bases-loaded balk scored Jeff Smith, who singled to lead off the inning. Josh Anderson followed with a two-out, RBI single to left to plate Dane McFarland with the tying run. Pinch runner Nate Robertson was gunned down at the plate by SImpson to end the inning.
In the bottom of the eighth, P.J. Jones singled past third base and was forced out at second on a failed sacrifice bunt. But after Jordan Cowan failed to move the runner, Rafael Fernandez followed with a bunt that hugged the chalk on the third base line until coming to a dead halt in front of third base. Logan Taylor greeted new pitcher WIll Landsheft with a single to center to load the bases before a wild pitch bounced high in the air away from catcher Jose Queliz, allowing Cowan to score the go-ahead run. A Simpson ground out and Alex Jackson base hit to center brought home two more runs to put the Frogs up 7-4.
It seemed they might need those insurance runs after the Hops began to mount a threat in the ninth against Clancy (1-0). Ozuna blooped a hit to right and Sergio Alcantara followed with another blooper to center that fell in safely. But Ozuna could not get a good read on the ball and hesitated on the basepaths, allowing Jackson, making his first start of the season in center field, to gun him down at second for a critical second out. Smith walked to bring the tying run to the plate, but Clancy fanned Nehrir swinging at an 0-2 breaking ball to seal his first professional victory.
Lawrence Pardo (1-1) was charged with the loss. The Hops' lefty reliever came on with two on and none out in the seventh and got three outs on three pitches, but surrendered two runs in the eighth.
Ozuna went 2-for-4 and is 7-for-14 for the series at the plate. Mitsui continued his strong series, going 1-for-3 with a double and a walk. Jackson went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored and Simpson had two RBI and two runs scored.
With both teams facing long bus rides tomorrow, the final game of the series will start at 11:05 a.m. on Kids Day at Memorial Stadium Wednesday. The Hops return home Thursday night to face the Spokane Indians at 7:05 p.m., while the Aquasox head off on their longest road tip to Boise for the first of five games.
Northwest League Stories from July 8, 2015
- American Mascot Association Cancels Mascot Mania - Boise Hawks
- Hops Fall in Series Finale - Hillsboro Hops
- Simpson Drives in 3, Frogs Win 2nd Straight - Everett AquaSox
- Sunday's Game to be Nationally Televised - Hillsboro Hops
- Salem-Keizer Falls in 11 Innings - Salem-Keizer Volcanoes
- Moore Fans Five as AquaSox End Hops Streak - Hillsboro Hops
- Martinez's Performance Carries Indians in Win - Spokane Indians
- Frogs Snap Losing Streak, Top Hops 7-4 - Everett AquaSox
- Canadians Drop Third Straight In Eugene - Vancouver Canadians
- Emeralds Use Big First Inning to Sink Vancouver - Eugene Emeralds
- Indians Down Hawks On Fielder's Choice - Boise Hawks
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