Two-Out Tribulations Cost Hops in Series Finale
June 23, 2015 - Northwest League (NWL1)
Hillsboro Hops News Release
Out three played hard-to-get for the Hillsboro Hops Monday night.
The Spokane Indians scored all eight of their runs with two outs to defeat the Hops 8-3 in the rubber match of their season-opening five-game series at Avista Stadium.
The Indians scored four runs in the second inning off Hillsboro starting pitcher Jefferson Mejia (0-1) and never trailed.
Hillsboro cut the lead in half in the fourth inning when Fernery Ozuna singled with the bases loaded, scoring Jose Queliz and Quinnton Mack. Prior to that, the Hops were 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position, having put the first two runners on base in the first and second innings without scoring a run.
Omarlin Lopez (1-0) relieved Indians' starting pitcher Cody Palmquist and struck out the next two batters to end the threat. Lopez retired all eight batters he faced with three strikeouts to follow up a perfect inning of relief two nights ago.
The Hops hung around, closing to wtihin 5-3 in the 7th when Ozuna scored from second on a Gerard Hernandez infield hit, but the Indians answered two runs in the bottom of the inning, including a solo home run by Connor McKay, just signed to a free agent contract and added to the roster that day. McKay, who went undrafted despite hitting .346 and earning First Team All-Big 12 honors at Kansas, added an RBI single in the eighth inning to cap the scoring.
Ozuna factored into all three Hillsboro runs and went 2-for-5. Three of Hillsboro's five hits did not leave the infield and the Hops went 2-for-15 with runners in scoring position and stranded 11 base runners in the game.After 13 extra base hits in the first three games, the Hops were held to nine singles over the final three games of the series.
The Indians finished with seven extra base hits, led by Darius Day (2-for-4 with a double and a 3-rbi triple) and Tyler Sanchez (2-for-5 with two doubles and a run scored).
Hillsboro faces Salem-Keizer (3-2) in its home opener Tuesday night in the first game of a three-game series at Ron Tonkin Field. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m. and pregame coverage begins at 6:35 p.m. on Rip City Radio 620.
Northwest League Stories from June 23, 2015
- Series Notes: Eugene Emeralds vs. Boise Hawks - Eugene Emeralds
- Seattle Mariners' Top Prospect Coming to Avista Stadium - Spokane Indians
- Eugene Emeralds Host Olympic Night - Eugene Emeralds
- Salem-Keizer Volcanoes at Hillsboro Hops - Hillsboro Hops
- Boise Hawks Set Multiple Attendance Records on Opening Weekend - Boise Hawks
- Salem-Keizer Volcanoes at Hillsboro Hops - Hillsboro Hops
- Big Inning Spoils Great Day on the Mound - Eugene Emeralds
- Emeralds Host Opening Day - Eugene Emeralds
- Two-Out Tribulations Cost Hops in Series Finale - Hillsboro Hops
- McKay Leads Indians to Win in Pro Debut - Spokane Indians
- AquaSox Rally to Overcome 17 Strikeouts - Everett AquaSox
- Volcanoes Can't Come up with Big Hit in Loss - Salem-Keizer Volcanoes
- Hawks Can't Complete Comeback After Falling Behind Early - Boise Hawks
- C's Top Salem-Keizer 5-3 in Series Finale - Vancouver Canadians
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