Hernandez shuts out Salem to tie series

HILLSBORO, OR - A day after suffering their first ever playoff defeat, the Hillsboro Hops posted their most resounding playoff victory. Hops starter Carlos Hernandez was electric and the offense was active to lead the team to an 8-0 thumping of the visiting Salem-Keizer Volcanoes. The series will go to a decisive third game on Wednesday night at Ron Tonkin Field in Hillsboro. It was the twelfth time this season the Hops shut out an opponent, and the first in the playoffs.

Up against the wall and needing a victory to save the season, Hillsboro turned to Hernandez, the 2015 Northwest League pitcher of the year. He was nothing short of remarkable, working 6.1 shutout innings, allowing three hits and walking two. He recorded 12 strikeouts, tying a franchise record set by 2014 Hops pitcher Anderson Placido. Hernandez led the NWL in strikeouts with 93 this season, 20 clear of the silver medalist.

His fastball wasn't overwhelming, but it was impeccably placed. His secondary offerings, a knee-buckling curveball and a disappearing changeup, simply baffled the Volcanoes. He was the definition of an ace, giving his team his best outing of the year when they needed it most.

The Hops scored a single run in the top of the first. Zach Nehrir singled to lead off the game, and consecutive singles by Grant Heyman and Trevor Mitsui chased him around to score.

Hernandez posted zero after zero, continually giving his team chances to extend the lead, and they did. Salem-Keizer's starter Grant Watson allowed singles to Nehrir and Heyman in the bottom of the third and was lifted for reliever Eric Sim. He struggled to find the plate, walking Mitsui to load the bases, then walking Veras to score Nehrir. With the bases still loaded, Alexis Olmeda laced a single to center to score Heyman. With nowhere to put Nate Irving, Sim issued another walk with the sacks full to score Mitsui. The fourth and final run of the frame was scored on a Nate Robertson RBI groundout. The Hops held a commanding 5-0 lead with their ace on the hill.

The home team extended the lead further in the fourth with a Heyman RBI single. The game was officially put away in the fifth. Irving ripped a single to center to lead off the inning, and then Robertson launched a home run to left onto the Frontier Family Berm to make the score 8-0. Robertson was one of the heroes of 2014's playoff run when he went 4-7 en route to the championship. In 2015's playoffs, he is already 4-8 with four runs driven in.

Kirby Bellow and Will Landsheft completed the shutout and sent the Hops fans home happy. The crowd was raucous, waving rally towels and pushing the Hops to victory.

It's win-or-go-home Wednesday for both squads. Hillsboro sends Tyler Bolton to the hill to be opposed by Salem-Keizer's Logan Webb. First pitch is at 7:05 PM at Ron Tonkin Field. Coverage begins at 6:35 PM on Rip City Radio 620 AM and at www.ripcityradio.com.

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