Spokane sweep the Hops, resulting from deft pitching and opportunistic batting.  The Hillsboro Hops came on late in the game,  But, it wasn’t enough as the hot hitting Spokane Indians ruled the game 7-3.  The Hops tried to rally in the 9th but the gap was too much to make up.

Ninth Inning Hope

With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Jorge Barrosa stepped to the plate as the last chance batter for the Hops.  It looked like it would be a third out to end the game. But, outfielders Obie Ricumstrict and Luis Asuncion collided under the ball.  Ricumstrict tried to squeeze the final out but the ball bounced off the glove. Barrosa ended up at third base on the three base error.

Third round draft choice, Tristan English, followed with a double scoring Barrosa.  Lyle lin singled English over to third beating out an infield hit. That brought the tying run to the on deck circle.  It was too little too late as a fielder’s choice ended the game, the Hops swept for the first time since 2015.

Indians Pitching Kept Hops Down

The Hops bats struggled to get on board but it was a difficult start.  Ryan Garcia started the first two innings for the visitor and set the tone for those who followed.  The Hops did not get their first base runner until the fourth inning when they got two. Unfortunately, one of them was erased by a double play.

The first Hillsboro score came in the fifth when Jorge Barrosa doubled and scored off of Lyle Lin’s ground out to short.  Barrosa also scored the Hops third and final run in the ninth. Kristian Robinson continued his hot streak hitting his third homer in the last four games.  A little luck started bouncing the Hops way when Robinson’s shot bounced off the yellow railing on top of the left field fence to leave the park.

Teodoro Ortega (2-1) pitched five innings for the win, clinching the Spokane sweep.  Starting pitcher Marco Tineo (L, 1-2) took the loss for the Hops.

Four Run Seventh

The Indians peppered three runs over three innings but it was the seventh that decided the game.  Cristian Inoa doubled home Kenen Irizzary to start the inning and chase Erin Baldwin. Baldwin had come in to pitch in the fifth and succeeded in stopping a threat by the Indians allowing only one inherited runner and getting three outs.  Two innings later, Baldwin found himself on the opposite side of the coin.

Justin Garcia came into the game and got Luis Asuncion to ground out for the first out.  His next batter crushed a two run homer to left. After a strikeout, Jonah McReynolds added the inning’s second home run, sending his solo shot to left.  Finally, a strikeout ended the inning but not until after four runs crossed the plate.

Kristian Robinson Robs Extra Base Hit

Defense helped with two double plays on the night.  In the eighth, on the Hops second double play, Kenen Irizzary flew deep to right field where Kristian Robinson made an athletic catch to rob Irizzary of the extra base hit.  Scott Capers, who was on first, found himself at third too far away to beat the throw to double him off at first.

Standings

Despite the Spokane sweep, The Hillsboro Hops (14-9) find themselves still just one game behind the Southern Division leading Salem-Keizer Volcanoes.  The win helped the Spokane Indians (13-10) increase their lead over the Everett Aquasox to two games.

The Hops remain home to start another three game series, this time with the Boise Hawks.  First game is Sunday at 4:05 PM. Both teams have yet to determine their starting pitchers.  Spokane will go home to host Tri City.

Check out our other game recaps here at Minor League Sports Report.

Box Score

By

Greg Stoker

@GDStoker