Hillsboro Hops Hold on to Beat Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, 8-3
The Hillsboro Hops staked themselves to a big lead Monday night, but, unlike the previous night, they made it stand over the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, 8-3. It was the Hillsboro bats tonight behind some fine pitching byTyler Bolton (2-2) who staked the bullpen to a 6-3 lead after seven innings. Alex Young and Brett Shankin combined for two innings of one hit ball to preserve the win.
The Hops struck in the first inning. With Sergio Alcantara already on with an infield single, Josh Anderson lined one over the reaching glove of second baseman Richard Amion. Alcantara hustled over to third when the cut off throw from center fielder Ronnie Jebavy missed the cutoff man. An alert Alcantara headed home for the first score of the game.
In the third inning, the Hops would unknowingly put the game out of reach with a big inning. Stephen Dezzi scored from third on a ground out from Sergio Alcantara. With two outs and Galli Cribbs, Jr. on base with a walk, Josh Anderson hit a towering two run homer to bring Cribbs home. For the second night in a row, Trevor Mitsui was a part of back to back home runs when his shot over the left field fence. Mitsui has hit a home run in the last three games to become the team leader with six. Stryker Trahan, who was also part of the back to backs with Mitsui last night, came close to making it a third home run in a row for tonight. Trahan sent easily the farthest shot of the night towards right field but curved foul by a few feet.
Salem-Keizer made it close in the sixth. With Steven Duggar on third, Jose Vizcaino, Jr. brought him home with an infield single. Then CJ Hinojosa cleared the bases with a two run shot of his own. That brought the Volcanoes within striking distance, 6-3.
The Hops would score more insurance runs. In the seventh, with Nate Robertson at third, Sergio Alcantara singled bringing in Robertson.
In the next inning, the Hops would score two more. With Stryker Trahan on third, Nate Robertson poked one past short stop CJ Hinojosa for an RBI single. Gerard Hernandez moved to third on the throw home. Hernandez then scored on a ground out to short by Stephen Dezzi.
Nolan Riggs took the loss. Riggs lasted four innings giving up five runs (four earned) on five hits. Two of those hits were the back to back home runs.
Every Hops batter got at least one hit. All but one batter scored a run. The RBIs were spread out with no player having more than two. Josh Anderson went 3 for 5, scoring a run and bringing home two RBIs with his homer in the third. Sergio Alcantara and Trevor Mitsui went 2 for 5, both scored a run. Alcantara earned two RBIs while Mitsui had the other home run.
The Hillsboro Hops (12-7) maintained their one game lead over the South Division while the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes (10-9) dropped to two games behind the Hops.
Both teams will be back Tuesday night for the second game of the three game series. The Hops lead 1-0.
Short Hops: Hops pitcher Ryan Burr was promoted to the Long-A Kane County Cougars. Josh Anderson has extended his hitting streak to nine games.
By Greg Stoker
@GDStoker
