Hillsboro Hops Squeeze by Eugene Emeralds, 3-1
On a night where runs and hits were few and far between, the Hillsboro Hops managed to stay in front of the Eugene Emeralds when it counted to take the first game of the series, 3-1. Pitchers kept a lid on the bats with the help of their defense. Both sides were able to connect for a total of four double plays.
Dansby Swanson scored the first run of the game. Swanson singled to left in the fourth and moved to third on Grant Heyman’s single. Trevor Mitsui hit into a 6-4-3 double play but Dansby came home during the play.
The Emeralds answered back in the next inning. Alex Bautista doubled to left field and moved to third on Blake Headley’s ground out to second baseman Sergio Alcantara. Bautista made it home on Frandy Delarosa’s ground out to third baseman Josh Anderson.
The game stayed tied until the Hops came to bat in the eighth and scored two runs. Alex Olmeda poked a line drive to left and alertly took second when second baseman Frandy Delarosa couldn’t handle the throw to the infield. Olmeda moved to third on Galli Cribbs, Jr.’s bunt putting runners at the corners. By the time Grant Heyman came to the plate with bases loaded, a wild pitch by Pedro Araujo allowed Olmeda to come home for what would prove to be the winning run. Cribbs came home on a Trevor Mitsui sacrifice fly for an insurance run.
Troy Marks started for the Hops and went six innings allowing one run on five hits. But, it was not enough for the decision as he left the game after six with the score tied 1-1. Will Landsheft (3-2) came in and pitch a scoreless, one-hit seventh for the win. Cameron Gann (S-3) pitched a near-perfect one hit and one walk eighth and ninth for the save.
Preston Morrison started for the Emeralds and did an admirable job going three innings allowing only one hit and no runs and left the game in the fourth with the score tied at 0-0. Pedro Araujo (0-1) would relieve Kyle Twomey in the fifth and absorb the loss after allowing two runs on one hit.
Trevor Mitsui claimed the only Hops RBI increasing his team leading total to 33. Dansby Swanson went 1 for 2 and scored a run. Alexis Olmeda scored the game winning run. All five Hops hits were singles.
Frandy Delarosa had the lone Emerald RBI with his double knocking in Alex Bautista for the Eugene’s lone run. PJ Higgens went 2 for 4. Four of the Emeralds’ seven hits were doubles.
The Hillsboro Hops (17-13) gained a game on the South Division leading Eugene Emeralds (18-12) and are only one game back of the lead. The two teams meet again Saturday evening for the second game of the three game series. The Hops lead it 1-0.
Recent transactions: on 8/24, LHP Lawrence Pardo was put on the 60-day disabled list on the same day that RHP Justin Donatela was brought to the Hops from the Arizona League. On the next day, RHP Brent Jones was promoted to the Kane County Cougars of the Midwest League.
Greg Stoker
@GDStoker
