Franklin Torres singled home Francisco Del Valle and Kyle Kasser for the tying and go ahead runs in the eighth inning.  The Tri City Dust Devils scooted past the Hillsboro Hops near the last minute for the win, 4-3.

Hops take First Lead

Up until that time, the Hops remained one run ahead of the home team since scoring in the second inning.  But, the game started out much different.

The Hops opened up the game and the scoring at the same time.  In the top of the first, the Hops’ Jorge Barrosa sent the fifth pitch of the game to left field and for a triple (2) to start the game.  Tristin English came to the plate two batters later and sent his blast (3) over the left center field fence for the game’s first lead.  However, the Hops wouldn’t keep the lead for long.

In the bottom of the same inning, the Dust Devils closely paralleled the Hops’ efforts.  Spencer Griffin took his team’s fifth pitch of the game for a 5-pitch walk.  Livan Soto joined him putting runners at first and second.  Two batters later, Adrian Rondon doubled (3) home Griffin and Soto to tie the game at 2-2.  More runs were scored in the first (4) than in the rest of the game(3).

Eduardo Diaz Sixth Homer Gives Hops Lead Again

Then, in the top of the second, Eduardo Diaz led off the top with a solo shot (6) to left center.  The Hops owned the lead 3-2 for the next 50 batters.  No one touched the plate until Del Valle and Kasser reached home safely in the eighth inning.  In between, the game belonged to the mound.

The Hops’ Drew Jameson started and allowed the Dust Devils’ two runs in the first.  After that, Jameson went almost 70 pitches allowing no runs on four hits with five Ks and no walks.  In fact, walking Griffin to lead off the game was his only walk issued on the night.

Similarly, starting pitcher Ryan Smith for the Dust Devils allowed three runs at the beginning of the game and then settled down as well.  After allowing Diaz’ solo homer at the top of the second, Smith shut down the Hops for the next four innings worth of work.  During that time, he allowed no runs on three hits, three Ks and no walks.

Relief in Sight

But, with one more lead change on the way, both starting pitchers would come away with a no decision.  The same with Dust Devils reliever Erick Julio who pitched two innings of no hit, no run work before the lead change.

On the other hand, it was a bit different for the Hops.  Saddled with the lead, Justin Lewis (H, 1) relieved Jameson and ran into trouble.  He managed to get two outs before surrendering the mound but Lewis left with two runners still on base.  Luckily, Nick Snyder (H, 3) put out the fire by getting Livan Soto to pop up to second baseman Cam Coursey.

Franklin Torres Saves Best For Last

Nick Snyder (L, 1-4) was not as lucky.  Coming back for the eighth, Snyder ran into trouble of his own.  Del Valle singled and Kasser walked to join him.  With one out, Snyder threw a wild pitch advancing the runners to scoring position.  That was enough for Vince Harrison as he brought in Mailon Arroyo (BS, 2) to relieve Snyder and hopefully to close the game.  Snyder left the mound being responsible for the two runners.  Arroyo struck out Gareth Morgan for the second out but allowed Franklin Torres to hit his two-RBI single to take the lead for the Dust Devils and hold on for the win.

Standings

The win helped the Tri City Dust Devils (22-37) maintain the distance of 17.5 games back of league leading Everett who won their fifth game in a row tonight.  The Dust Devils also gained another game on their next team above, the Hillsboro Hops (24-34), and are now two and a half games back of fifth place.  The loss dropped the Hops to 15 games behind the top.

Tri City wins the series 4-2.  The Dust Devils travel to Everett to take on the league leading Aquasox.  The Hops return home to host their roommates, the Vancouver Canadians.  You can watch the Hops on MiLB.tv, listen to them on 620 AM radio or follow me on Twitter for half inning updates.  You can find my Twitter handle below.

Box Score

By

Greg Stoker

@GDStoker