Hillsboro Hops, Carlos Hernandez Limit Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, 4-2
The Hillsboro Hops took time away from another pitcher’s duel to explode for four runs and take the series opener over the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, 4-2.
Starting pitcher for the Hops, Carlos Hernandez, took the mound in his first appearance since the All-Star Game. In six innings, Hernandez (4-1) continued building to his league leading and Hops franchise season record 65 strike outs for the win. Carlos allowed two runs on three hits. One of those hits was a two run blast for the Volcanoes only scoring. Troy Marks, Breckin Williams and Cameron Gann combined for near perfect relief. In three innings, the relief men allowed no runs on two hits with two walks and three strikeouts. Gann (S-1) earned the save.
Volcano starter Luis Pina allowed two runs on five hits in five innings leaving the game at a 2-2 tie. Nathanial Santiago pitched the sixth and seventh innings for the loss (1-2). Armando Paniagua and Eric Sim pitched perfection in the last two innings and held the Hops to no hits but it was too late.
The scoring started in the third when John Riley slapped a grounder off short stop Sergio Alcantara’s glove and into center field for a single. Shilo McCall followed with a towering blast over the left field wall for a two run homer. The Volcanoes would have three more hits the rest of the game.
The Hops answered back in the fifth. Nate Robertson singled up the middle with one out. Sergio Alcantara singled to right. The ball got behind right fielder Steven Duggar and Duggar chased it back to the warning track as Robertson hustled around the bases to score. Jake Peevyhouse singled to center to put runners at the corners. Fernery Ozuna sacrificed to left field and Alcantara scored the tying run.
The Hops weren’t done. The next inning, Josh Anderson grounded to short stop CJ Hinojosa. CJ couldn’t get the handle and Anderson reached first on an error. Trevor Mitsui sent his first pitch to left on a line drive for a single. Gerard Hernandez bunt sacrificed towards third to move both runners into scoring position. BJ Lopez walked on a full count to load the bases. Sergio Alcantara blooped a single to center field to score Anderson and Mitsui for what would be the final score.
Sergio Alcantara was the hero going 2 for 4, scoring a run and two RBIs including the game winner. Luis Veras also went 2 for 4. Both men would have half of the Hops hits for the night.
Shilo McCall went 1 for 4 but that one hit was a tape measure slug for his fifth home run of the season and scored two RBIs. The Volcanoes only had five hits for the night.
The Hillsboro Hops (7-4) climbed into a first place tie with the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes (7-4). Both teams will play the second of three games on Monday night.
Note: All Star Hops Pitcher Jared Miller was promoted to the Class A Kane County Cougars of the Midwest League. Miller won the promotion based on a stellar performance with the Hops that included leading the league in wins (7) and becoming the starting pitcher for the NW League at the All Star Game. Jared’s last appearance as a Hop was at the All Star Game five days ago.
By Greg Stoker
@GDStoker
