The Hillsboro Hops pelted, pummeled and pulverized the Spokane Indians 15-0.  That is the only way to describe it as one word wasn’t enough to drive the point home.  And drive the Hops did.  The Hops got behind the steering wheel in the first inning and never let the Indians take control of the direction of the game.  With the Hops’ bats on the gas pedal, the Hops pitching never let the Indians take off their parking brake.

The Hops run total came with 14 hits and ten walks, including three doubles, two triples and one home run.  It all started with Yan Sanchez.  In the bottom of the first, Sanchez bounced a line drive over the head of center fielder Miguel Aparicio and the outfielder chased it down to the warning track.  Bryan Araiza followed with a Texas Leaguer over second baseman Kole Enright to bring home the first run of the night.

That first run would prove to be enough but no one has told the Hops lately to take it easy.  The Hops followed with 14 insurance runs just in case with everyone swinging a bat for the Hops scoring at least one run.

Eudy Ramos was a clear leader at the plate, going 3 for 5 and bringing home four runs.  Two of those came in the fifth when Eudy smacked a long, tall homer over the left center fence for the game’s only home run.  Bryan Araiza was close behind with another three hits and three RBIs including a triple to lead off the third and start a run-through-the-order inning for the Hops.  It was the first of two innings where the Hops batted through the order.

The third inning was filled with five runs on four hits and two walks from nine batters.  The fifth inning was filled with six runs on four hits and four walks from ten batters.  Bryan Araiza helped cap off the night with a two run double in the eighth.  Yan Sanchez would come home for the final run on Eudy Ramos sacrifice fly to left field later in the inning.

Where did all of this offense come from?  Connor Owings had an idea.  “Trading questions.”  The simple answer mirrored how the Hops bats have been making it look easier than it is.  “The great thing about baseball is there are new perspectives.  You can learn new things” by watching or talking to each other.  “I’ve talked to Pavin (Smith) and looked at the plate” when he was at bat.  Connor watches his teammates and tries to “pick their brains”.

When asked if he gets his brain picked as well, Connor smiled and nodded yes, quickly deferring to others.  “When you have the top three bats from the draft” playing on the team, “it gets contagious.”  I have heard that phrase from others during the season.  It’s contagious.  They are teammates.  They all share the success with each other.

But, when the other team is limited to no scoring, the pitching staff deserves just as much credit.  Left fielder Connor Owings was quick to sing the praises of the pitching staff.  “Everyone is looking at our hitting but you have to look at our pitching as well.”  During the Vancouver series the Hops swept, the “most they scored was three runs.”  It was actually seven in the 19-7 loss to the Hops but they did keep the Canadians to an average score of 2.6 runs with one shutout.  Without that one game, the Hops limited the Canadians to an average of 1.5 runs per game.  “Our pitchers give us a chance to win.”  You hardly see “two or three batters on base with no outs.”

Connor Grey (W, 5-2), who is leading the team in wins, gave another high quality start going seven innings on 93 pitches for the win.  While on the mound, Connor struck out six batters and refused to let anyone walk to first.  Matt Brills finished off the last two innings keeping the Indians scoreless on one hit and striking out four batters.

Since June 24^th of this season, Connor Grey has pitched 36.1 innings over six games averaging six innings per start.  He contributed the success to “being able to throw an inside fastball”.  He has worked on it this year and it is showing very good results.  “In college, I was known as an innings eater.  I always strived to give my team a chance by going as deep as I can” into a game.

Luis Lopez (L, 0-3) started for Spokane and left after giving up six runs in less than three innings for the loss.

The win kept the Hillsboro Hops (22-14) a game ahead of the Eugene Emeralds for first place in the Southern Division.  The Boise Hawks lost tonight, dropping two games behind the division leading Hops and were eliminated from the championship.  The first half of the season ends after Sunday’s games.  With Eugene holding the tie breaker, any combination of two Hops wins or Eugene losses will make the Hops the first half champions.  Since two games are remaining, the Hops are in the driver’s seat.  Whoever wins the first half championship will be guaranteed a spot in the playoffs come September.

With the loss, the Spokane Indians (14-22) maintained a five-game gap behind the Northern League leader Vancouver Canadians.  The Indians have already been eliminated from the first half.

Both teams return to Ron Tonkin Field Saturday at 5:05 pm for game three of the five-game series.  The Hops not only lead the series 2-0 but are also on a seven-game winning streak.

Hops notes: RHP Jhoan Duran was assigned to the AZL D-Backs of the rookie league.  Jhoan started five games for the Hops, going 2-1.  RHP Rafael Pujols and RHP Pierce Romero were assigned to the Missoula Osprey of the Pioneer League.  Pujols pitched 14 innings over ten games in relief and struck out 17.  Romero pitched nine innings over eight games in relief.

Boxscore

Hillsboro Hops Photos by Craig Mitchelldyer-Hillsboro Hops

By Greg Stoker
@GDStoker