Hillsboro?  We have lift off.  The Hops leave the Boise Hawks behind 12-3 as they launched in the first and second inning while scoring eleven runs.  Afterwards, the Hawks needed a telescope to find their visitors. But, as usual lately, the Hops had to stave off a rally, though mild, in the late innings.

Boise Re-Entry

The Hawks finally got on the board in the sixth inning and then again in the eighth.  In the sixth, Bladimir Restituyo singled home Daniel Cope who had doubled with the Hawks only extra base hit of the night.  The eighth brought Aaron Schunk home on Yorvis Terrealba’s RBI single.

To make up for some of Boise’s gain, Steven Leyton launched a moon shot towards the left field fence in the top of the ninth.  It wasn’t enough to get into orbit but it did increase the deficit back to double digits 12-2.

Launch Window

The excitement was in the beginning.  When the host team came to the plate for the first time in the game, they had already seen two singles, two doubles, a triple, a walk and a sacrifice fly by their visitors.  The scoreboard read 5-0.

The second inning launched even higher.  After the Hops provided a hit batter, walk, walk, single, single, double, walk and a single before the first out of the second inning recorded, the score read 10-0, Hops.  An eleventh run came across the plate on the second out ground out.

In all, Hops batters scored twelve runs on 16 hits, including three doubles, a triple and a home run.  Not only do the Hops leave no doubt, the Hops leave no chance. After a very close game the previous night that went down to the last at bat, this game was almost decided at the start.

Navigating Home Plate

Another reason why the large lead is credited to the Hops starting pitcher, Marcos Tineo (W, 2-2).  Tineo went five scoreless innings while spreading around four hits. Seven strikeouts proved to be a major factor giving Tineo the win.  The last four innings coasted by with the help of bullpen mates Trevor McKenna, Jake Polancic and Erin Baldwin.

Breiling Eusebio (L, 1-2) started for the Hawks and went ten pitches in the first inning, hitting a batter and walking another on four straight pitches, for the loss.

Standings

The win helped the Hillsboro Hops (18-10) stay one game behind the Southern Division leading Salem-Keizer Volcanoes.  The loss dropped the Boise Hawks (13-15) to five games behind the Hops.

Both teams will return to Memorial Stadium for the third and final game in the series.  The Hops will try for the sweep. Wilfry Cruz (2-0) is slated to take the mound for the Hops.  In his last appearance on Sunday, Cruz pitched five scoreless innings limiting the same Boise Hawks to three hits for his second win since coming to the Hops.

Jeffri Ocando (0-3) will face Cruz.  On last Saturday, Ocando went seven innings, giving up two runs on six hits for his third loss of the season.

Stay with the Minor League Sports Report for game recaps throughout the season.  Stay with me on Twitter for half-inning updates on all home games.

Box Score

By

Greg Stoker

@GDStoker