The Hillsboro Hops traveled north to the North Division leading Vancouver Canadians at Nat Bailey Stadium.  Smacking four runs to start the game was enough to beat the host Canadians 4-3 as they held off the team with the league’s best record for the win.

With one out, Bryan Araiza started the onslaught by taking advantage of Vancouver’s lone error of the night to reach first.  Eudy Ramos and Pavin Smith followed with back to back singles to opposite fields.  Smith’s RBI single opened up the scoring for an early 1-0 lead.

Camden Duzenack slapped a double off of third baseman Brandon Polizzi’s glove into left field scoring Eudy Ramos for the game’s second score.  Daulton Varsho beat out an infield single to bring Pavin Smith home.  The inning’s final score came when Duzenack plated on Tra’Mayne Holmes ground out to pitcher Juan Nunez for the 4-0 hill left for the Canadians to climb back into the game.

Vancouver almost made the trek to the summit.  They cut the lead in half in the bottom of the first.  Reggie Pruett scored on a throwing error by third baseman Eudy Ramos.  Kevin Vicuna crossed the plate with the help of David Jacob’s sacrifice to center field.

The 4-2 edge stayed in place for the next four innings until Matt Morgan scored on Kevin Vicuna’s RBI single up the middle in the bottom of the fifth.  That would be the final scoring of the game as the Hops held on for the close win.

Luis Madero (W, 1-0) made his Hillsboro Hop debut for the win going six innings.  Madero allowed all three runs but only one was earned due to two costly throwing errors.  Bringing his reputation up with him from Missoula, the young Venezuelan struck out five batters.  Erbert Gonzalez (S, 6) pitched a hitless ninth for the save.  Vancouver managed only three hits for the night, all singles coming in the first, third and fifth innings.

Juan Nunez (L, 2-2) started for Vancouver and lasted five innings before retiring for the night.  Nunez allowed all four runs in the first inning but only two of them were earned.  Jake Fishman came on or the final four innings, striking out five and holding the Hops to only two more hits.  Together, Fishman and Nunez combined for eleven strikeouts.

Hops bats were more alert Saturday night going for eight hits.  Pavin Smith led the way going 3 for 4, scoring a run and knocking another home.  Eudy Ramos went 2 for 4 and scored a run for the other Hops multi-hit game.  Camden Duzenack and Dan Swain’s doubles were the only extra base hits of the night for either team.

The Hillsboro Hops’ (16-14) win kept pace with the division leading Eugene Emeralds (17-13) with one game separating the two.  Boise fell into a second-place tie with Hillsboro with a loss.  The loss for the Vancouver Canadians (18-12) reduced their lead over the Tri-City Dust Devils to two games.

The two teams return to Nat Bailey Stadium for the second game for the five-game series on Sunday.  Hillsboro lead the early returns 1-0.

Hops notes: Brian Shaffer was assigned to the Arizona League Diamondbacks (AZL D-Backs).  The sixth round 2017 draft choice made three appearances for the Hops.  Shaffer allowed only one hit and no runs in three innings for an 0.00 ERA.

Boxscore

Hillsboro Hops Photos by Craig Mitchelldyer-Hillsboro Hops

By Greg Stoker
@GDStoker