Zac Cook led off the 9th with a solo shot to take the lead back – again.  This time it stuck though the Hops gave it a good try.  For the second night in a row, the Vancouver Canadians take a close one late over the Hillsboro Hops, 8-7.

Felt Like Two Games in One

This game may have not gone to extra innings but it sure felt like it.  Either that or every inning felt like the ninth.  Either way, the game consisted of mini eruptions at both ends of the game with a soft, creamy, non-scoring middle inside.

The first three innings started with the Hops mounting a five run binge over the first two innings.  The Canadians came up with three of their own in the third.  The Hops sent eight men to the plate in the first and another eight in the second.  The Canadians woke up and sent seven of their own in the third.  Both teams scored in bunches.

The Hops scored mainly by stringing singles together with walks, wild pitches, hit batters and a sac fly or two,  In fact, the Hops were only responsible for one extra base hit.  That was Blaze Alexander’s two-run double in the second.

Spencer Horwitz Starts a Party

Vancouver scored their runs with power.  They had plenty of extra base hits.  Three doubles and three home runs to be exact.  Spencer Horwitz sent a three-run shot out and claimed an RBI for every score that inning.

The middle three innings were colored by soft and peaceful play so quiet, you could hear the pitchers rubbing their stitches on the ball.  The Hops had Wesley Rodriguez for their conductor of the middle innings.  Under his command, batters were not allowed to score or walk.  But, Vancouver did manage to sneak in a couple of singles left stranded at the end of the inning.

The Canadians teamed up two of their pitchers for a quiet command.  Hayden Jeunger and Jol Concepcion kept the Hops’ batters silent and hitless for the middle innings.  But, peace and quiet can last only so long.

Zac Cook Punctuates the End Game

The last three innings were a repeat of the first three.  Vancouver sent all nine batters to the plate in the seventh.  The Canadians started off with Davis Schneider’s solo shot.  With runners at the corners, Tanner Morris hit a ground rule double forcing Zac Cook to stop at third.  At the end of the inning, Vancouver took the lead back by a two run margin.

That two run lead disappeared however in the next inning.  Thanks to back to back RBIs from Jorge Barrosa and Ronny Simon, the game was tied and it looked like extra innings would be here soon.  As with the rest of the night, the Hops scored those two runs with two walks, an error, a sac fly and a single.

Zac Cook Takes Final Lead

The ninth was set up.  Both teams saw a chance to take advantage of the last inning of the game where a quick lead could mean a win.  That was when Zac Cook led off the inning with his home run for the night.  The Hops faced a one run deficit.  For the only time tonight, the Hops struck out all three plate appearances to end the inning and the game.

No Decision for Starters

Adam Kloffenstein and Shumpei Yoshikawa started for Vancouver and Hillsboro respectively.  They both get a “no decision”.  Will McAffer (W, 2-3), who struck out six batters for the Canadians, gets the win.  Nick Snyder (L, 2-6), who gave up the winning home run to Zac Cook, takes the loss.

Standings

The win kept the Vancouver Canadians (46-54) nine games behind Spokane who also won tonight.  With the season dwindling down, the nine games are looming larger and larger.  Twenty games are left in the season.  But, Vancouver did increase their lead over the Hops to one and a half games.

The loss dropped the Hillsboro Hops (44-55) dangerously close to Tri City in sixth place.  While the Hops have been going 2-8 the last ten games, the Dust Devils have gone 7-3.  Last week Tri City was almost ten games away from the Hops.  As a result, they are a very close three and a half games away from reaching the Hops and fifth place.

Further, these two teams play again for game#5 on Saturday at 7:05 PM.  Vancouver has evened the series at 2-2.  However, if you can’t make the game, you can watch it on MiLB.tv, listen to 620 AM radio or follow me on Twitter for half inning updates.  Subsequently, you will find my Twitter handle below.

Box Score

By

Greg Stoker

@GDStoker