Spencer Brickhouse sent a long shot over the fence in the bottom of the eighth with Jorge Barrosa on board and the Hillsboro Hops down 3-2.  The result?  The Hops jumped over the Vancouver Canadians at nearly the last minute for the win, 4-3.

Fourth Time Is Still a Charm

It was the Hops fourth win in a row and, this time, a come from behind victory though not quite a walk-off.  But, it was close.  Just like the game itself.  The game never featured a lead by more than two which the Canadians had at 3-1.  It lasted less than the next three outs before it not only shrunk, but disappeared completely.

The game started like it would take more than just four runs to win this ball game.  In the first inning, both teams scored a run setting the pace at a nine run game for both sides.  With two outs, Luis De Los Santos singled and came home on Phil Clarke’s RBI double.  The Hops matched it with a run of their own in the bottom of the inning when Jorge Barrosa led off with a solo shot to tie the game.

Two innings later, Vancouver took a 2-1 lead when Rafael Lantigua led off with a walk and scored on a passed ball by the Hops’ catcher Andy Yerzy.  The Hops were quiet in their response until after Vancouver added another run in the sixth when Phil Clarke singled and took second and third on separate wild pitches by Hops’ pitcher Kai-Wei Lin.  Eric Rivera’s ground out to third brought Clarke home to make it 3-1.

Spencer Brickhouse Adds Final Score

That would be it for the Vancouver half of the scoreboard.  The only addition was the Spencer Brickhouse two-run launch in the eighth which proved to be the final score.  The Hops never led until that moment.  But they led when it counted at the end of the game.

Starting Pitchers Give Worthy Efforts

Whenever the final lead change happens as late as the eighth inning, you can count on both starting pitchers not getting the win.  You have to be on the mound when your team takes the lead to qualify.  But, that doesn’t mean you didn’t do your job.  Both starting pitchers walked from the mound with the score tied at 2-2.  Though when Adam Kloffenstein left, his second run was still on base.  Both pitchers had one of their runs unearned.  So technically, each pitcher was only responsible for a 1-1 tie score.  Kloffenstein struck out six batters.  Drew Jameson (for the Hops) struck out seven.  On another night, both pitchers could have easily been the winner.

Spencer Brickhouse Hands Win to Tyler Jones, Loss to Nolan.

The relief corps came in one-inning bunches.  Except for Kai-Wei Lin who stood on the mound for two full innings and Brandon Eisert who not only got his one inning but also finished the sixth inning for Kloffenstein.  Ty Jones (W, 2-0) struck out two of his three batters faced for the win.  Mailon Arroyo (S, 2) retired all three of his batters in the ninth to earn the save.  Alex Nolan (L, 0-1)  gave up the Spencer Brickhouse two-run homer to take the loss.

Standings

The win kept the Hillsboro Hops (28-35) 13 games behind the league Leader Everett who also won tonight.  It did help them gain on the team above them, Spokane and are now one game behind fourth place.  The loss dropped the Vancouver Canadians (31-34) to eleven games behind Everett and are now six and a half games behind second place Eugene.

Both teams meet for the sixth and final time this week on Sunday afternoon.  The Hops currently lead the series 4-1 and have clinched a series win.  You can watch the game on MiLB.tv, listen on 620 AM radio or follow me on Twitter for half inning updates.  You can find my Twitter handle below.

Box Score

By

Greg Stoker

@GDStoker