KRobbie, or Kristian Robinson as the young man is legally known, shined in yet another game as a part of a force to be reckoned with.  The Hillsboro Hops blanked the Everett Aquasox 3-0 with a team effort. Despite some tough pitching from the Aquasox, the Hops batsmen sprinkled enough hits and came through when it counted.

Hops Bats Punch Through With Help

It was the Hops bats that came through with a little help from outside sources.  For example, in the bottom of the eighth, shortstop Steven Leyton led off by getting hit in the upper left thigh for a free pass to first base.  Moments later, Everett pitcher Matt Martin tried to pick off Leyton from the bag throwing the ball past first baseman Cash Gladfelter and down the wall towards right field.  Leyton took quick advantage and slid into third base on the throwing error.

With a runner in scoring position, left fielder Joe Gillette smacked a single through the infield easily scoring Leyton and moving center fielder KRobbie over to third.  KRobbie had been given a free pass literally with an intentional walk. The young Bahamian’s reputation has grown enough that it is preceding him. Rather than face the high Diamondback prospect, the Aquasox would rather give him first base in lieu of him taking even more.  KRobbie later scored on an error by catcher Brennon Kaleiwahea trying to throw out Gillette while trying to steal second.

Tight Game Before Eighth

Before that inning, the score remained a scoreless tie up to the sixth.  The game still remained a tight 1-0 affair due to the efforts of both starting pitchers.  Aquasox starter Juan Then (pronounced “Ten”) held the Hops batters from scoring in a bevy of ways. Second baseman Ricky Martinez and Steven Leyton led off the first inning with back to back singles – only to remain on the base paths while watching Then strike out the next three Hops batters to get out of the inning.

Hops starting pitcher Tyler Holton gave up two hits and no runs by striking out five batters in four innings.  Holton also could count on his defense to not make an error and effectively clean the bases. Deyni Olivero came on for the last five innings to do even better with six strikeouts.  Together, the two limited the visiting Aquasox to only three hits during the entire game,

Defense Shined

Strikeouts only accounted for eleven outs.  The defensive took care of the rest. Ten groundouts, four flyouts and two fielder’s choices filled the rest of the plate.  During those plays, the possibility of an error is ever present and can ruin the best of momentums.

Here, the defense remained solid throughout the game.  Not one error complicated matters. Two plays by the same player exemplified the Hops gloves in the field.  Third baseman David Garza, Jr. played the hot corner as if there was ice in his glove. In the fifth, Garza came out of nowhere to slide and scoop up a ground ball heading for his own shortstop.  Quickly regaining his feet, Garza shot a bullet to first for an out. If Garza had not grabbed the grounder, a deeper fielding of the play would not have reached first in time considering it was the speedy third baseman Luis Joseph running down the first base line.

Again, in the seventh, Garza quickly reacted to a sharp grounder going down the third base line.  Leaping and pouncing on the ball before it could get into the outfield and start a rally, Garza once again rose quickly to fire a speeding bullet to second baseman Ricky Martinez to get the lead runner.  A quick turn and throw to first by Martinez was just a step slow to make it a double play due to the speed of center fielder DeAires Moses who’s slap hit was stopped by Garza.

Standings

The win helped the Hillsboro Hops (4-3) remain in a three-way tie for first place in the Southern Division with the Boise Hawks and Salem-Keiser Volcanoes.  The loss dropped the Everett Aquasox (3-4) to one game behind the Northern Division leading Spokane Indians.

The two teams meet again Tuesday night for game two of the four game series.  The Aquasox start Damon Casetta-Stubbs (3-0) on the mound. In his last appearance, on Thursday, Casetta-Stubbs went five innings allowing two runs on two hits for the no decision.

The Hops present Luis Frias (2-3) as their starter.  In his last appearance, also on Thursday, Frias lasted five innings giving up one run on five hits in the loss.

Stay with the Minor League Sports Report for game recaps throughout the season.  Follow me on Twitter for half inning updates throughout all home games.

Box Score

By

Greg Stoker

@GDStoker