In an amazing comeback reminiscent of the Tortoise and the Hare, the Hillsboro Hops edged the Tri-City Dust Devils in the ninth, 9-8. With one out in the top of the ninth, Justin Chigbogu smacked a deep double to left field. In a strategic move by manager Shelley Duncan, he brought in Anfernee Grier as a pinch runner. Grier jumped over to third on a Luke Lowry line drive and came home on an error by Dust Devil first baseman G. K. Young on Luis Silverio’s grounder to second.

Tri-City was not without a threat of their own in the bottom of the inning. With two outs, Luis Asuncion reached first on an error by Hops third baseman Ramon Hernandez. After being replaced by pinch runner Aldemar Burgos, Wilfri De La Cruz’s single to left field moved the runner into scoring position. With Tommy Eveld on the mound since the eighth, the Hops pitcher got Taylor Kohlwey to ground out to first to end the game.

The game was a night of playing catch up for the Hops who would do their best to stay close just to see the Dust Devils increase the lead like a carrot dangled on a stick. To the Hops credit, they never gave up.

The biggest payoff came in the eighth inning that started with Hillsboro behind 8-4. Knowing that their time was starting to run out, Justin Chigbogu led off the inning with a single to right and moved over to second on Luke Lowry’s follow up single. Manny Jefferson dealt a strong blow with a double to score Chigbogu and leave two runners in scoring position. Adam Walton grounded to short but a miscue by short stop Chris Baker allowed Lowry to come home.

With the tying run now on base, Marcus Wilson tripled both runs home to even the score. The Hops had scored four runs and made it a brand new game again.

Hops bats were hot with fourteen hits that included three doubles and a triple. Luke Lowry went 3 for 5 and scored a run. Adam Walton went 2 for 4 and scored three times. Chad Oberacker, Marcus Wilson and Justin Chigbogu served two hits on the night. Alexis Olmeda, Luis Silverio and Manny Jefferson managed a hit on the night as well. Eight of nine starters hit safely at least once during the game.

The game featured 26 hits by both teams combined but it took the shut down pitching by Colin Poche and Tommy Eveld to secure the win. Poche took the mound for the seventh after the Dust Devils had already scored three runs and had runners at the corners with no outs. Up stepped Poche. Wilfri De La Cruz struck out at the plate. Luis Ascencion, who had been on first, was thrown out at second on Taylor Kohlwey’s fielder’s choice after the runner at third was looked back before the throw. And finally, Kohlwey was caught trying to steal second but was gunned down by catcher Jose Queliz’ strong arm.

Tommy Eveld (W, 1-0) held on for the win allowing no runs on two hits over two innings. Dust Devil Nathan Foriest (L, 0-1) finished the game but allowed the winning score on three hits for the loss.

The Hillsboro Hops (17-17) remain seven games behind first half winner Eugene but managed to get back to a .500 record in second place. The Tri City Dust Devils (17-17) fell into a first place tie with the Spokane Indians as all four North Division teams still have a chance for the first half crown.

Both teams return Friday night for the third of five games. The series is tied at 1-1.

Boxscore

by Greg Stoker
@GDStoker