Shutout Is Fair Play; Hops Blanked at Pasco
July 29, 2023 - Northwest League (NWL)
Hillsboro Hops News Release
PASCO, Wash. --- One night after shutting out the Tri-City Dust Devils, the HIllsboro Hops suffered the same fate.
Each team had four hits, but the Devils, playing as the Columbia River Rooster Tails, cashed in on three early walks and breezed to a 4-0 win over the Hops Thursday at Gesa Stadium.
The Hops put two on with two outs in the first and rolled the dice when Junior Franco's hot shot grounder caromed off the glove of diving first baseman Matt Coutney. David Martin tried to score from second, but was gunned down at the plate with room to spare by second baseman Adrian Placencia.
The Rooster Tails had a nearly identical scenario in the second inning. Back-to-back one-out walks by Hops starter Jose Cabrera put Arol Vera and Werner Blakely aboard. With two down, Coutney pulled a grounder to the right side that deflected off the glove of diving second baseman Manuel Pena. The speedy Blakely raced around third and scored just ahead of the throw home to put the home team up 2-0.
A leadoff walk started the third inning. D'Shawn Knowles drew the free pass and swiped second. Placencia followed with an infield hit, his first of the series, then he pilfered second. Joe Redfield followed with a deep drive to center. Wilderd Patino sprinted back, turned before the track and back-pedaled, but misjudged the ball, which dropped in front of him. The speedy Redfield steamed around to third with a 2 RBI triiple.
That was more than enough for Rooster Tails starting pitcher Michael Darrell-Hicks, who limited the Hops to three hits over six innings, fanning six with three walks. A good thing too, because the Rooster Tails put runners at third base with fewer than two outs in four of the final six innings and failed to score them.
The Hops bullpen was stout for the third consecutive night. Dillon Larsen retired six straight batters with five consecutive strikeouts after a leadoff walk in the fifth. Carlos Meza pitched a 1-2-3 seventh with a K and Zach Barnes fanned the side in the eighth after a leadoff walk.
Hillsboro has held Tri-City to five hits or less in all four games of the series so far, but has just two wins to show for it.
Game five of the series is at 7:05 p.m. Saturday night with pregame coverage starting at 6:50 on Rip City Radio 620 AM.
Northwest League Stories from July 29, 2023
- Giesting Sings and Wilderd Swings, Hops Submerge Rooster Tails - Hillsboro Hops
- Emeralds' 6-Game Win Streak Snapped - Eugene Emeralds
- Hogan's Hero, Sox Win with Windish HR, 3-2 - Everett AquaSox
- Columbia River Spins Around, Shuts Out Hillsboro - Tri-City Dust Devils
- Shutout Is Fair Play; Hops Blanked at Pasco - Hillsboro Hops
- Emeralds Victorious in 6th Straight Game - Eugene Emeralds
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