When the Hillsboro Hops hit the ball, they made the most of it. Unfortunately, the Hops didn’t hit it enough and went down to the Everett Aquasox 7-3. To compound the problem, the Hops also yielded ten walks and three errors of which the Aquasox took advantage

The sixth inning proved to be magical for Everett. Behind 2-1, Eric Filia started off with a walk, moved to second on a wild pitch by starting Hops pitcher Anfernee Benitiez, reached third on a catching error by third baseman Josh Anderson and came home to tie the game when Jake Winston walked Nick Thurman with the bases loaded. Later in the inning, Kristian Brito scored on a double play to take the lead. Johmbeyker Morales scored off Austin Grebeck’s line drive single for an insurance run. Everett was up 4-2. From there, Everett would distance themselves from the Hops more and more scoring three more runs in the eighth.

The Hops managed only five hits in the game but they were able to get three runs out of them. In the third, Sergio Alcantara walked just before Anfernee Grier launched a blast to the deepest part of the field to take a 2-1 lead that would evaporate three innings later.

The Final Hops runs came in the ninth with a two out rally that spurred Marcus Wilson home by a Luis Veras RBI single.

Colin Poche had come on the ninth to do what the rest of the staff couldn’t: silence the Aquasox bats. For one inning, Poche made easy work of three batters including two strike outs. But, as nice as it was to see, it was too little too late.

Anfernee Benitez (2-3) started for the Hops and lasted five innings for the loss. Benitez actually started the sixth but loaded the bases with three walks before he was relieved. Anfernee allowed four runs (only one was earned) on four hits. He also allowed five walks. With ten walks on the night, hitting the strike zone turned out to be the bane of Hillsboro until the ninth. Jake Winston, Tucker Ward, Kevin Ginkel and Colin Poche each pitched one inning.

Jake Brentz (1-1) started for the Aquasox and went five innings for the win. Brentz allowed two runs on three hits. Joselito Cano, Michael Koval and Marvin Gorgas were able to limit the Hops to just one more run the rest of the way and preserve the win.

The Hops bats were for the most part, silent. Marcus Wilson made the most of his four plate appearances. Wilson went 2 for 2, with a double, a score and two walks. Anfernee Grier (1) smacked his first homer for two RBIs. Luis Veras went 1 for 2 and the Hops final RBI. Sergio Alcantara went 1 for 2 and scored with Grier’s homer.

Everett bats were a little more successful with most of the damage coming from Hops walking the batters and committing three errors in the field. Austin Grebeck went 2 for 3, scored and had an RBI. Donnie Walton went 2 for 5, scored a run with an RBI.

The Hillsboro Hops remain five games back of the Eugene Emeralds in the South. The Everett Aquasox remain one game behind North leading Tri-City, tied with the Vancouver Canadians for second. Both teams return to Ron Tonkin field Thursday night for game two of the five game series.

Boxscore

By Greg Stoker
@GDStoker