Back & forth, the lead exchanged several times.  First the Hops went ahead 2-0.  Then, Everett Aquasox took the lead 3-2.  Finally, the Hillsboro Hops came out on top 5-3.  When all was said and done, the Hops also took the series 3-2.

Rain & More Rain

Fate can be blamed.  Mostly the weather can be found responsible.  The first casualty, Saturday night’s game, was cancelled due to the rain.  But, it was added to be played after Sunday’s contest to make up for it.  First Sunday game went fine, especially for the Hops.  But, then the rain came back and cancelled Sunday’s version of Saturday night’s game.  Therefore, the series ended with five games played instead of the normal six.

Thus, the Hops won their first series of the season, 3-2.  Oh, the Hops came close when they tied the series 3-3 against the Emeralds in the second week of the season and Tri City during the fourth week.  But, this shortened week is the first series win by the Hops.  A sign that things might be turning around.

Back & Forth offense

The scoring opened with a double statement by the Hops.  Both Reece Hampton and Spencer Brickhouse offered up almost back-to-back homers in the third.  Separated by one batter in between them, fans hoped for the start of something bigger.  It didn’t come.  Instead, Everett’s whittling the lead down one by one came.

Carter Bins homered in the fourth to make it 2-1.  Zach DeLoach walked and eventually scored on Hops’ third baseman Tristin English’s error under pitcher Drey Jameson.  A pitching change came with Blake Workman (W, 1-0) relieving Jameson.  Before Workman could end the inning, Carter Bins doubled and eventually scored on Joseph Rosa’s sacrifice fly.  The lead now belonged to Tri City, 3-2.

The final lead change in the back & forth came in the sixth when four Hops batters singled along with the Spencer Brickhouse double chasing them home.  Buddy Kennedy opened with a single and eventually scored on a Tristin English RBI single.  Andy Yerzy followed with his single, scoring on Axel Andueza’s RBI single for the lead.  Andueza added an extra cushion when he scored on Brickhouse’s RBI double.  The lead, 5-3, belonged to the Hops for good.

Back & Forth: Fine Pitching Interrupted by Strings of Hits

Starter Drey Jameson gave his team a solid 83 pitches in 4.1 innings.  During his watch, his only damaging blip came when Bins sent his solo shot over the fence.  An unearned run also came on Jameson’s watch but he had retired by then.  But, during his time, with eight strikeouts, averaged almost two K’s per inning.

Blake Workman added his four K’s during his two innings of relief and earned the win.  Joe Jones (S, 4) closed the ninth with another K to give the Hops a total of an unlucky 13 strikeouts – unlucky for the Aquasox.

For Everett, their starter, Brandon Williamson (L, 1-1) lasted 93 pitches into the sixth inning.  WIlliamson struck out twelve batters during his tenure.  The fire from the mound had only two problems.  But, they were big problems.  Two homers in the third and four singles in the sixth.  Brickouse’s double came under Fred Villarreal’s watch.

Standings

With the win, the Hillsboro Hops (13-16) gained a half game of what they lost after Saturday’s game got cancelled.  They now sit six and a half games behind league leader Eugene.  The loss dropped the Everett Aquasox (17-12) to a game and a half behind Eugene.  Hillsboro wins the shortened series 3-2.  Both teams start a new six game series on Tuesday.  Hillsboro comes home to host the Tri City Dust Devils.  Everett stays home to host the Eugene Emeralds.

Steals

Buddy Kennedy stole second base in the first inning to add to the Hops’ Minor League Baseball leading total of 82.  The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers of the High A Central are gaining and are now at 68, only 14 behind the Hops.

Check out the weekly look backs t see how the Hillsboro Hops are doing.

Box Score

By

Greg Stoker

@GDStoker