The Hillsboro Hops scored five runs in the eighth to come from behind and held off the host Boise Hawks to win 8-6 in the opening game of this three-game series.  Boise had the tying run at first base in the bottom of the ninth with one out.  Closer Erbert Gonzalez (S, 7) struck out Daniel Jipping and Austin Bernard to save the game.

The five-run eruption by the Hops in the eighth saw almost the entire nine-man line-up falling just one batter short.  Daulton Varsho walked and Tra’Mayne Holmes singled to lead off the inning and brought about a pitching change.

Mike Bunal came to the mound to relieve Kyle Cedotal and promptly gave up a two-run double to Dan Swain that tied the game.  Swain would later come home off a Camden Duzenack single for what would prove to be the winning run.

But the Hops weren’t done yet.  Jorge Perez scored on a Ryan Grotjohn single.  Camden Duzenack raced home on a wild pitch by Mike Bunal.  Those runs weren’t needed but were nice to have as a cushion since Hawk JB Moss homered to start of the ninth.

Luis Madero started for the Hops and after allowing Boise to score three runs in the first, settled down for six innings.  That first inning led to five singles by the Hawks as part of the factor for scoring.  Madero allowed two more runs to score on five hits spread out over the remaining five innings of service.

Breckin Williams (W, 1-0) pitched a hitless seventh to earn the win as pitcher of record when the Hops laid down the five runs in the eighth.

All starting batters hit safely in the game.  First and second position in the order, Camden Duzenack and Ryan Grotjohn respectively, hit twice for the only multi-hit games for the Hops.  That included a Duzenack double to start off the game and a Grotjohn triple in the third.  Duzenack and Daulton Varsho both scored twice to join four other Hops to cross the plate.

The win brought the Hillsboro Hops (1-1) into a first-place tie with the Eugene Emeralds and the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes.  The loss dropped the Boise Hawks (0-2) to one game behind the Southern Division leaders.  Both teams return to Memorial Stadium for the middle game of the series.  Hillsboro leads 1-0.

Hops notes: The Pioneer League released its All-Star Roster on Tuesday and it features three members of the Missoula Osprey.  Many Hops have historically played on the Osprey before being promoted to the Hops.  This year’s selections include:

Catcher Domonic Miroglio is a 2017 draft choice out of the 20th round.  He played collegiate ball for the University of San Francisco.  The Oakland native has started 18 games for the Osprey and is batting .323 with seven doubles and a home run.

Second baseman Keyshawn Lynch, a 14th round selection out of this year’s draft, has played in 20 games for the Osprey and is batting .369 with one double and one home run.  The Floridian was drafted out of the State JC of Florida.

Pitcher Abraham Almonte came from the 26th round of this year’s draft out of Philadelphia University.  The LHP has appeared in nine games for Missoula, all as relief.  His .174 ERA consists of 16 strikeouts and a WHIP of 1.16.

This will be the third year of the annual Pioneer League vs the Northwest Lague All-Star Game.  The NWL currently leads the competition 2-0.  The game is scheduled for this coming Tuesday, August 1st.

Boxscore

By Greg Stoker
@GDStoker