Boise Hawks Blast the Hillsboro Hops, Hold on for Win, 5-3
The Boise Hawks blasted to an early 4-0 lead and held on to beat the Hillsboro Hops 5-3. It wasn’t until the bottom of the eighth when the Hops bats seem to wake up. Up to that time, the Hops managed only two hits. One was Trevor Mitsui’s ground-rule double over the left field fence in the second. Mitsui had homered in the previous five consecutive games but it was not to be tonight.
The Hops did get to see Dansby Swanson’s first home run as a Hop in the eighth. BJ Lopez had singled and Sergio Alcantara walked to set up Swanson’s blast over the left field fence cutting the deficit to two and stirring life and hope into the fans.
The game scoring started in the first inning when Wesley Jones walked with the bases loaded to bring home Terry McClure. Kevin Padlo then scored on a wild pitch by Cody Reed with Marcos Derkes at the plate. To finish off the inning, Derkes singled scoring Brian Mundell and Jones.
The Hawks did get an insurance run in the third when Brian Mundell sent the first pitch of the inning over the left field fence.
David Hill started for the Hawks going 2.2 innings and allowed only Trevor Mitsui’s double with no runs. Alec Kenilvort continued with 1.1 innings of no hit relief. It was Drasen Johnson (1-3) pitching three innings of scoreles one hit relief for the win. Dylan Thompson (S-1) pitched the ninth retiring three of four Hops batters and walking the other for the save.
Cody Reed started for the Hops but was chased before the first inning was over. Reed allowed four runs on two hits. Ariel Hernandez came on in relief with one out and a man on base. Hernandez struck out the next two batters to end the inning. Ariel continued his control over the Hawks by striking out three Hawks batters in the second sandwiched around a single. Hernandez did allow Brian Mundell’s solo blast in the third.
The Hops managed a total of four hits for the night. Dansby Swanson earned all three Hops RBIs with his blast in the eighth.
Brian Mundell went 2 for 3, scoring twice and a RBI. Carlos Derkes went 2 for 4 with two RBI.
The Hillsboro Hops (13-9) fell into a tie with Eugene for the South Division lead. The Boise Hawks (7-15) gained a game and are six games behind the Hops.
The Boise Hawks took the first game of the three game series. Both teams will meet Friday night for the second game.
Short Hops: It was a night to remember for the 1970’s team, the Portland Mavericks. Twenty two former Mavericks came to share the celebration and to see the Hops players wear retro red uniforms with “Portland Mavericks” emblazoned across the chest. For one night, the Mavericks were back alive in the first annual celebration of the legendary team. At the end, the retro uniforms were auctioned off for charity.
Hops pitcher Brett Shankin was named pitcher of the week by the NW League.
By Greg Stoker
@GDStoker