The Hillsboro Hops made an amazing comeback to tie the game in the seventh but couldn’t hold on as the Boise Hawks pulled away to win 9-7. In the bottom of the seventh, Hawks Bobby Stahel was hit by a pitch, moved to second on a Wilkyns Jimeniz ground out (4-3) and then came home on Wesley Jones’ line drive single to right to take the lead. Boise added an insurance run in the next inning when Daniel Suero doubled to lead off and came home on Willie Abreu’s single to right.

The Hops found themselves down 7-1 when they came to the plate in the top of the fifth. Sergio Alcantara led off with a double to right and came home on Luis Veras’ single to center. Two outs later, Hillsboro loaded the bases with two walks to Stephen Smith and Marcus Wilson sandwiching Veras’ single.

Daniel Kroger came to the mound in relief for the Hawks. Kroger’s first batter, Gavin Stupienski, cleared the bases with a double to left-center. Manny Jefferson brought home the fifth score of the inning when he doubled Stupienski home. The Hops found themselves behind by only one run, 7-6.

The next inning, the Hops tied the game after Sergio Alcantara was hit by a pitch and moved to third on Luis Veras’ single to center field. So far this season, the Hops have been excellent in pulling off the double steal. They did it again tonight when Veras stole second and Alcantara snuck home on the throw. Score: 7-7.

Several Hops bats were in form tonight as they gathered ten hits. Sergio Alcantara went 2 for 3 with a double and scored three runs. Gavin Stupienski, in his third game of the season, went 2 for 4 with a double, scored and knocked in three runs. Marcus Wilson went 2 for 3 and scored. Manny Jefferson went 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI.

The Hawks went one better with eleven hits on the night. Willie Abreu went 3 for 5, smacked a solo home run in the second, scored twice and had two RBI. Bobby Stahel went 2 for 3, clobbered the game’s other homer, this one for two runs, scored three times and had two RBIs. Wesley Jones knocked home what would be the game’s winning run going 2 for 3, scoring a run and two RBIs. Daniel Suero, Luis Castro, Jacob Bosiokovic and Anthony Brito also hit safely.

Tyler Mark started on the mound for the Hops but was relieved after the fourth inning. Mark allowed seven runs (four earned) on eight hits. Jose Martinez pitched two innings of no hit ball. Tucker Ward (0-1) pitched the seventh and allowed Wilkyns Jimeniz to score the winning run on one hit for the loss. Riley Smith came on in the ninth and allowed the insurance run on two hits.

Erick Julio started for the Hawks and lasted 4.2 innings before being chased by the Hops five run inning. Daniel Kroger gave up Stupienski’s three run double. Justin Calomeni, Marc Magliaro and Julian Fernandez finished the last three innings blanking the Hops both scoring and hitting. Calomeni (1-0) got the win while Fernadez (S, 3) earned the save.

The Hillsboro Hops (7-10) remained five games behind division leader Eugene but fell into a second place tie with Salem-Keizer. The Boise Hawks (6-11) took the series (2-1) and gained a game on Eugene and are now only one game behind the Hops in the standings.

Both teams move on to their next series. Hillsboro will come home and face the North Division leading Tri-City Dust Devils. This will be the first time those two teams meet since Hillsboro won the NW League Championship last year eliminating the Dust Devils 2-1. Boise will travel to Spokane to meet the Indians for a five game series of their own.

Boxscore

Image of Sergio Alcantara by Craig Mitchelldyer/Hillsboro Hops

By Greg Stoker
@GDStoker