Trevor Mitsui brought everyone home for the Hillsboro Hops in the 3-2 victory over the Tri-City Dust Devils. Mitsui’s game winning RBI double brought Dansby Swanson and Stephen Dezzi home in the bottom of the ninth for the tying and winning runs.

The Dust Devils scored first in the top of the first when Peter Van Gansen smacked a triple to right with Justin Pacchioli on second. Ty France sacrificed to right to bring home Van Gansen for the early 2-0 lead.

The Hops would cut that deficit in half during the bottom of the inning.  With Sergio Alcantara on second and Dansby Swanson on first, Trevor Mitsui singled to center field, driving home a hustling Alcantara from second for his first RBI of the night.  The night would remain silent until the ninth inning.

The Hops have the self-confidence to know the ninth inning is their time. Dansby Swanson grounded into a fielder’s choice forcing Sergio Alcantara out at second. Grant Heyman singled to right field with a grounder that took a high bounce over second baseman Kodie Tidwell’s glove putting runners at the corners. Hops manager Shelley Duncan replaced hard hitting Heyman with a quick Galli Cribbs, Jr. as a pinch runner. With one out, Trevor Mitsui walks up to the plate and drills his game winning double to the left field corner. Before anyone could react, Swanson was across the plate with the tying run. Then, everyone watched Cribbs sail around the base paths.  As Galli neared third, everyone realized Cribbs would score and the fans rose in anticipation. As Cribbs stepped on the plate, the crowd erupted. Mitsui’s teammates rushed Trevor left of second base and piled on top for another high celebration walk off win. It was the second night in a row that Mitsui had hit the game winning RBI.

Tyler Mark pitched the first five innings for the Hops allowing two runs on four hits. Mark left with the score 2-1 Dust Devils. Jeferson Mejia pitched three shut-out innings to set up Brody Greer for the ninth. Greer (1-1) pitched a perfect inning striking out two of the three batters he faced for the win and set up the stage for the Hops bats to snatch the game from the Dust Devils.

Dust Devil pitching held the Hops to two hits until the ninth. Emmanuel Ramirez pitched the first six innings allowing one run on two hits.  Samuel Holland pitched two innings of perfection to set up their closer Phil Maton for the ninth. Maton (4-2) took the loss when he allowed two runs on three hits.

The Hops managed five hits all night but they made them count.  Trevor Matsui continued his timely hitting after going yard the previous night for the game winner. Tonight, Mitsui went 2 for 4 with a double and all three RBIs for the Hops adding to his team leading total of 31. Sergio Alcantara went 1 for 3 and scored a run. Dansby Swanson scored the tying run in the bottom of the ninth. Pinch-runner Galli Cribbs, Jr., scored the winning run off Mitsui’s double.

For the Dust Devils, Peter Van Gansen went 1 for 3 with a triple, scored a run and knocked in Justin Pacchioli for a RBI. Henry Charles went 2 for 2 with a double but had no effect on the scoring.

The Hillsboro Hops (16-12) maintained one game behind South Division leader Eugene. The Tri-City Dust Devils (12-16) maintained their four games behind North Division Leader Everett.

Both teams end their five game series Thursday night. The Hops and the Dust Devils have battled to a 2-2 tie and Thursday’s winner will take the series. The season ends September 6th.

Boxscore Provided by MiLB.com

By Greg Stoker
@GDStoker