Hops’ Hopes Fizzling in Eugene

EUGENE, ORE. (August 15, 2026) – A little more than a week ago, a seven-game winning streak had pulled the Hillsboro Hops from eight games out of a playoff spot to three games out. But since then they’ve hit the skids, dropping six of eight.

Their latest loss came on Saturday night at P.K. Park in Eugene. For the second straight game, the first-place Emeralds erased a 1-0 deficit with a two-homer, five-run frame. Eugene’s five-run third inning highlighted an 8-4 win. It was the Ems’ third straight victory after Hillsboro had won the first two games of the series.

The Hops (20-27 in the second half, 52-61 overall) are now six games out of a playoff spot in the second half pennant chase, with 19 games remaining in the season. Eugene (26-20, 68-44), the first-half champ, already has a spot in the Northwest League Championship Series.

The Hops got an early run, but for the second straight game, a fantastic defensive play with the bases loaded kept it a 1-0 game. With two out and none on the first inning, Hillsboro shortstop Kayson Cunningham doubled into the left-field corner and advanced to third base on an error. Carlos Virahonda singled to center to score Cunningham, and Jakey Josepha and Yassel Soler drew walks to load the bases. Kenny Castillo then smoked one to deep short, where Jhonny Level made a backhand sliding grab, and converted it into an inning-ending force-out at second.

Hillsboro starter Kyle Ayers worked two scoreless innings before running into problems in the third. With one out, number-nine hitter Robert Hipwell clouted his second homer in two nights. Level walked and Zander Darby singled. Lisbel Diaz then belted a three-run home run, his 21st of the season, to extend his hitting streak to 16 consecutive games. Then, with two out, Walker Martin reignited the rally with a double to left-center, and Hayden Jatczak’s single brought home Martin with the fifth run of the inning. When Zane Zielinski then grounded out to end the frame, the similarities to the previous night’s bottom of the seventh were clear: on Friday, Eugene hit a pair of homers and plated five runs in an eight-batter inning that took just 16 pitches against John West; Saturday’s bottom of the third against Ayers also featured two dingers, five runs, and nine batters on just 23 pitches.

Ems starter Luis De La Torre was ineffective, giving up three hits and three walks in three innings, throwing 62 pitches. A quartet of relievers followed—Nate Nabholz, Matt Dunaway, Liam Simon and Marty Gair—giving up three runs over six innings, with Simon allowing a two-run homer to Castillo in the eighth. By then, Eugene had added single runs in the fourth, sixth and seventh (two off Ayers, one off reliever Nate Savino) to give the pitching staff some breathing room. All nine Emeralds had hits in a 13-hit attack, and Zander Darby extended his hitting streak to 11 games in a row.

If the Hops’ flickering playoff hopes couldn’t afford a series split, they really can’t afford a series loss. Hillsboro will seek the split on Sunday afternoon in the series finale at P.K. Park. Game time will be 4:05PM, with pregame airtime at 3:50PM on Rip City Radio 620AM and RipCityRadio.com.