Tri-City Dust Devils, Kimber Slam Door on Hillsboro Hops, 6-3
The Tri Cities Dust Devils are proving to be a tough team to keep down. For the second time in three games, the Dust Devils scored six runs in the eighth inning, this time beating the Hillsboro Hops 6-3.
The Hops again had an excellent start. One of their all-star pitchers, Cody Reed pitched four innings of no-run, one-hit ball to hand a one-hitter to his relief staff. The idea before the game was to limit Reed’s pitches so he can pitch in next Tuesday’s all-star game. Both Taylor Clarke and Brody Greer continued with a combined three innings of no-hit ball. It was in the eighth that things went awry.
Cameron Gann(0-1), who had allowed only two runs total in 18 innings this season, could not find the handle tonight. Pitching only a third of an inning for the loss, Gann allowed six runs on six hits.
The pitching for the Dust Devils kept pace with their Hops counterparts. Adrian De Horta pitched four innings allowing one run on Nate Robertson’s solo home run in the fifth. Phil Maton (3-1) pitched the seventh and eighth innings for the win, allowing no runs on one hit and struck out three.
The scoring started in the fifth with Nate Robertson’s home run shot over the left field fence. It looked like that one run just might hold up as there was no more scoring…until the bottom of the eighth.
The barrage opened with a single down the first base line by Justin Pacchioli. It was only the second hit by the Dust Devils that night. That total quickly grew. Rod Boykin singled up the middle to put runners at the corners. Peter Van Gansen successfully bunted down the third base line attempting to score Pacchioli. Instead, Van Gansen safely reached first while loading the bases. Ty France came to the plate and was hit by a pitch, forcing Pacchioli home for the first score. Jose Carlos Urena followed with a two run single to right, scoring Boykin and Van Gansen. Austin Allen singled to right scoring Ty France. Both runners advanced to scoring position on the throw to the plate. With Nick Vilter at the plate, a wild pitch by Cameron Gann scored Jose Carlos Urena and Austin Allen moved to third. Vilter doubled to the warning track easily scoring Allen.
That was enough for Gann. Troy Marks came on and retired the next two batters to end the inning. When the Dust Devils had settled, they had sent ten men to the plate. Six of them scored. Six of them hit safely. Seven reached base. The Hops were behind 6-1.
The Hops did make a valiant effort in the top of the ninth. Trevor Mitsui smacked a one-out double to the warning track. Stephen Dezzi singled up the middle to put runners at the corners. Nate Robertson, who had hit the solo homer in the fifth, singled to right, scoring Mitsui and moved Dezzi to second. With Sergio Alcantara at the plate, the Hops pull a double steal. Dezzi took off flying from second. The throw from catcher Austin Allen went sailing into left field and Dezzi quickly got up and flew home. Robertson who had stolen second during Dezzi’s play action, moved to third on the throw home. Alcantara walked putting runners at the corners. With two outs, Galli Cribbs, Jr., walked up to the plate representing the tying run, but pitcher Corey Kimber regained control and retired Cribbs to end the game.
The offense was spread over the Dust Devils’ line-up as the scoring was truly a team effort tonight. Nick Vilter went 2 for 4 with a double and a RBI. Justin Pacchioli went 1 for 3 and scored a run. Jose Carlos Urena went 1 for 2 scoring a run and earning two RBI.
For the Hops, Jake Peevyhouse made his Hops debut subbing for Zach Nehrir while Nehrir is out on an injury. Peevyhouse is up from the Missoula Osprey of the rookie league. Trevor Mitsui went 1 for 3, scoring a run and hitting a double. Both Stephen Dezzi and Nate Robertson went 2 for 4 and scored a run. Robertson also had two RBI. Sergio Alcantara went 1 for 3.
The Tri City Dust Devils (4-2) maintained a one game lead over Everett for the North Division lead. The Hillsboro Hops (2-4) have now lost three games in a row and have entered the basement of the South Division. They did maintain two games behind the division leaders Eugene and Salem-Keizer.
Both Teams meet Sunday for the final fifth game of the series. The Dust Devils lead it 3-1.
By Greg Stoker
@GDStoker
