Nail-Biter Turns into Blowout Loss at Tri-City

PASCO, WASH. --- Again, Tyler Bolton pitched well. And again he was denied his first win.

On Thursday night at Tri-City, the Hops' right-hander took a 3-0 lead into the bottom of the sixth, but got chased three hitters into the inning. All three scored, giving Bolton a no-decision. Tri-City then scored seven times off three Hops relievers to beat Hillsboro 10-3. The Northwest League's two first-half champions have split the opening two games of the five-game series.

Bolton (0-2, 4.41 in nine starts) has kept his team in the game nearly every time he's started, but he's still winless.

The Hops moved in front 2-0 in the top of the second against Tri-City starter Jose Castillo. Trevor Mitsui and Nate Irving opened the inning with singles, and with one out, Nate Robertson doubled to right-center to score Mitsui. Sergio Alcantara then lined an 0-2 pitch deep enough to left to score the second run on a sacrifice fly.

In the third, Hillsboro capitalized on an error when Irving drove home Luis Veras with a two-out base hit up the middle to make it 3-0.

Bolton had pitched out of a jam in the fourth, striking out Mason Smith and Nick Vilter with runners at second and third. But he was unable to pitch out of trouble in the sixth.

Peter Van Gansen led off by slapping a single to left, and then Ty France ripped a one-hop shot toward third. It could have been a double play, but the normally sure-handed Nate Robertson let it get by him. It was originally ruled an error, but later changed to a base hit. Either way, instead of two out and none on, there were two on and none out. And when Carlos Belen singled home a run to make it 3-1, Bolton was replaced by Troy Marks.

Jose Carlos Urena singled off Marks to tie the game, and after a catcher's interference (loading the bases) and a foul out, Tri-City catcher A.J. Kennedy singled home the tying and go-ahead runs. Tri-City led 4-3.

Hillsboro wasted a great opportunity in the top of the seventh. Galli Cribbs was hit by a pitch and Fernery Ozuna reached base on an error, putting runners at first and third with no one out. Luis Veras sacrificed Ozuna to second, but his bunt was too hard to get Cribbs home. And with runners at second and third and one out, Tri-City reliever Elvin Liriano retired Alexis Olmeda on a strikeout and Trevor Mitsui on a ground out.

That was the last chance the Hops would get.

Tri-City broke the game open in the bottom of the eighth against Ariel Hernandez and Lawrence Pardo. Hernandez, who had pitched around a pair of walks to start the seventh, couldn't turn the same trick an inning later. Five straight batters reached base against the hard-throwing righty --- two walks, two singles, and another walk --- and all five would score. Pardo also struggled with his command, walking one, hitting a batter and throwing two wild pitches. When the dust settled, the Devils had a 10-3 lead.

The Hops had a two-out double from Fernery Ozuna in the ninth, but Tri-City reliever Wilson Santos retired Veras on a ground out to end it.

Hillsboro (2-2 in the second half, 24-18 overall) is one game out of first in the South Division's second-half race; Tri-City (2-2, 24-18) is in a three-way tie for first in the North.

The middle game of the five-game series is on Friday at 7:15 at Gesa Stadium. The radio pregame show begins at 6:45 PM on Rip City Radio 620AM and www.RipCityRadio.com.