Hillsboro Hops, Andy Yerzy Blast Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, 6-5
The Hillsboro Hops pounded the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes in the first inning, grabbing a lead and not looking back. Andy Yerzy swatted four hits on the night were a part of the 15 hits by the Hops in the game. The two hits from Francis Martinez went for doubles. Jorge Perez sent a solo blast over the right field fence.
Matt Tabor started the game for the Hops and almost made it through the fourth inning. Matt struck out Joey Bart to start the inning but then proceeded to load the bases with a double, a single and a walk. Dalton Combs struck out with the bases loaded but Nico Giarratano followed with a walk. After David Villar scored on the bases-loaded walk, Trevor McKenna came on in relief to stop the bleeding.
McKenna faced one batter, Aaron Bond who popped up to Jose Caballero to end the inning. Trevor stayed around for one more inning. The left-handed pitcher allowed two base runners but kept the Volcanoes scoreless for his time on the mound. Trevor McKenna (W, 1-0) earned his first win of the season. So far this season, McKenna has pitched eight innings over six games and has allowed no earned runs for a 0.00 ERA.
Ethan Larrison followed McKenna for a hitless sixth inning. Kyler Stout followed and almost stole the show. In two innings, Stout struck out five batters and allowed no runs. Still, the Volcanoes did not give up.
One Final Gasp
Josh Green is a reliable closer for the Hops. Josh came into the game already earning two saves and was hunting for his third. Down 6-3, the Volcanoes’s stepped to the plate with their last chance to catch the Hops. The Volcanoes almost made it. The bottom of the inning was filled with walks, throwing errors and fielder’s choices. S-K managed to load the bases before Diego Rincones grounded into a fielder’s choice that brought two runs in across the plate.
After the dust settled, Green got Joey Bart to line out to second baseman Keyshawn Lynch. The game was over. Despite the Hops outhitting their hosts 15-7, the game was close the whole way. Josh Green (S, 3) earned his third save.
The Hillsboro bats kept slugging away throughout the game. To go with Andy Yerzy’s perfect night at the plate (4 for 4), four different Hops went for two hits in the boxscore. Jose Caballero went 2 for 4. Francis Martinez not only smacked two doubles but he also scored twice. Keyshawn Lynch hit safely twice and knocked two run home to go along with his game-ending catch. Joining in the fun, Ryan Dobson added two hits.
Next
The win put the Hillsboro Hops (14-7) solely into first place, one game ahead of their hosts, the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes (13-8). Hillsboro takes the three game series 2-1.
Before coming home, the Hops head south to Eugene for another three game series. Matt Mercer is scheduled to start for the Hops. Brailyn Marquez (1-1) is scheduled for the mound for the host Eugene Emeralds. The S-K Volcanoes will host the Boise Hawks for a three game series of their own.
Notes: Ryan Ricci was assigned to the AZL D-backs on Friday.
Check out former Hops stars at Alumni in the Major Leagues.
By
Greg Stoker
@GDStoker
Hillsboro Hops, Franklyn Soriano Lock Down Eugene Emeralds, 5-1 - Minor League Sports Report
July 11, 2018 @ 10:56 am
[…] For the second night in a row, Andy Yerzy lit up the plate for the Hillsboro Hops. Then, Franklyn Soriano and the rest of the pitching staff kept the host Eugene Emeralds at bay 5-1. Last night, Andy lit up Salem-Keizer pitching for four hits on four trips to the plate. Keeping his show on the road, Andy lit up the Eugene pitching staff in the first game of the three-game road trip. Going 3 for 5, Andy Yerzy also hit a double, a home run and scored two runs. For the last two nights, Andy has gone 7 for 9. Check out Andy’s game last night at: Hillsboro Hops, Andy Yerzy Blast Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, 6-5. […]