NWL Hillsboro Hops

Shorthanded Hops Clutch up to Earn Series Split

Published on August 28, 2022 under Northwest League (NWL)
Hillsboro Hops News Release


VANCOUVER, B.C. - Channy Ortiz drove in the tiebreaking run with a 2-out RBI single in the eighth inning and southpaw Dillon Larsen struck out the side in the ninth for his first save in affiliated professional baseball as the Hillsboro Hops beat the Vancouver Canadians 4-3 Sunday in front of a sellout crowd of 6,413 at Nat Bailey Stadium Sunday afternoon.

A.J. Vukovich homered and drove in two runs for the fourth consecutive games, but Hillsboro's 3-0 lead evaporated in the sixth when Vancouver picked up four consecutive hits and three runs off Hillsboro reliever Marcos Tineo.

In the eighth, Deyvison De Los Santos led off with a double and Neyfy Castillo's base hit put runners at the corners. With two outs, Ortiz rifled a single to right center, scoring De Los Santos with the go-ahead run. Castillo was tagged out between third and home after rounding third base too far, one of a few mistakes the Hops made on the day.

But Hillsboro's defense remained rock-solid. With the tying run on first and one out in the bottom of the inning, Ryan Bliss handled P.K. Morris' ground ball up the middle, racing to second to force out Rainer Nunez before delivering a one-hop throw to Caleb Roberts at first for the double play.

With the Hops missing closer Christian Montes de Oca north of the border, fanning the side around a walk and a two-out single by Glenn Santiago, striking out leadoff batter Dasan Brown to close out the win.

Playing without Diamondbacks number two prospect Jordan Lawlar, starting pitcher Jamison Hill, number one catcher Adrian Del Castillo and closer Montes de Oca and losing two players to injury during the trip, the Hops had just one healthy position player on the bench for the series finale.

Vukovich homered to left center in the fourth inning to put Hillsboro up 1-0. The Hops added two more runs in the fifth on a De Los Santos RBI single and Vukovich RBI ground out.

Yilber Diaz started on the mound and limited the Canadians to no runs and an infield single over the first five innings before their game-tying rally in the sixth. Tineo fanned four, allowing six hits, three runs and no walks over three full innings to pick up the win.

De Los Santos and Castillo each had two hits for the Hops, who return to Ron Tonkin Field Tuesday for their final homestand against the Tri-City Dust Devils. Game time for Tuesday's opener is at 7:05 p.m. with pregame coverage beginning at 6:50 p.m.. on Rip City Radio 620 AM.

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