Boise Hawks Avoid Sweep by Hillsboro Hops, 5-2
The Hillsboro Hops struck first but the Boise Hawks struck last, beating the Hops 5-2. With the victory the Hawks avoided the three-game sweep.
Hawks Alec Kenilvort (1-0) pitched 2.1 innings in the fifth through seventh for the win. He allowed no runs on four hits, walking one and striking out one. Taylor Black (S-4) pitched the ninth inning, facing three batters and striking out one for the save.
Tyler Bolton (0-2) started for the Hops, going 6.2 innings and allowing four runs on ten hits for the loss. Bolton walked two and struck out four.
The Hops started the scoring in the fifth inning. Galli Cribbs, Jr., led off by walking on four straight pitches. Zach Nehrir came up to the plate and smacked the ball over left fielder Steven Leonard’s head and to the warning track for a stand up double. Cribbs scored from first on the play. After two outs, Trevor Mitsui slung one down the third base line for a stand up double. Nehrir came home ahead of the throw. Hops 2-0
The lead wouldn’t last long. In the bottom of the inning, Steven Leonard bunted to third baseman Nate Robertson and beat the throw for an infield single. Robertson’s throw went wide and down the first base line and Leonard took third on the two base throwing error. Brian Carroll following by tripling into right field and Leonard easily scored. Carlos Herrera singled a ground ball up the middle to score Carroll. Hawks 3-2.
The Hawks would add one more run in the seventh and eighth innings for insurance runs. In the seventh, Brian Carroll hit an infield single to third baseman Nate Robertson. Carlos Herrera punched a grounder through the left side hole and moved Carroll over to third. Marcos Derkes came to the plate. On Derkes strike out swing, Herrera stole second. Padlo was intentionally walked to load the bases and bring a possible force out to home plate. Mundell came up and sacrificed to right field bringing Carroll home. Hawks 4-2.
The eighth inning would give Carroll another chance to score a run. After two outs, Carroll swung a line drive to left field that bounced over outfielder Gerard Hernandez and went to the fence for a stand-up double. Carlos Herrera singled on a ground ball to second, but Cribbs’ throw went wide and Carroll scored on the throwing error. Final score: Hawks 5-2.
For the Hawks, Brian Carroll had a near perfect night going 4 for 4 and scoring three runs with a double, a triple and an RBI. Carlos Herrera went 4 for 5 and scored once with an RBI. Wesley Jones went 2 for 4. Nate Causey went 1 for 3. Kevin Padlo and Brian Mundell each had an RBI. Steven Leonard also scored a run.
Zach Nehrir went 3 for 5 with a double, a run and an RBI. Trevor Mitsui went 3 for 5 with a double and an RBI. Gerard Hernandez and Jose Queliz both went 2 for 4. Queliz had a double. Galli Cribbs scored a run.
The Hillsboro Hops (21-16) had their South Division lead reduced to one game. The Hops clinched the first half title last night as they own the tie breaker with the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes. The Boise Hawks (13-24) gained a game on the Hops.
The Hops come home Sunday to start a three-game series with the Volcanoes. The Hawks will host the Vancouver Canadians for a three-game series of their own.
The first half will end Sunday night. On Monday, all won-loss records will return to zero for the beginning of the second half.
By Greg Stoker
@GDStoker
