The Lupulos de Hillsboro and Tri-City Dust Devils entered a battle on Thursday night, with the Hops coming out on top by a score of 9-5. Hillsboro improved their record to a league best 19-8.
The Lupulos de Hillsboro and Tri-City Dust Devils entered a battle on Thursday night, with the Hops coming out on top by a score of 9-5. Hillsboro improved their record to a league best 19-8.
Hillsboro's Matt Tabor made his sixth start of the season against Tri-City's Cole Bellinger, younger brother of Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Cody Bellinger.
The Hops spotted Tri-City an early 3-0 lead. The visitors opened the scoring when Aldemar Burgos scored on a wild pitch and Justin Paulsen followed with a single to right to bring home Owen Miller. The Devils finished their early scoring on an Olivier Basabe single to left, driving in Blake Hunt.
The Hops responded instantly when Ryan Dobson -- who continued his torrid stretch -- singled in Tra Holmes. Dobson later touched the plate on a Jose Caballero sacrifice fly.
In the bottom of the second inning, first baseman Francis Martinez launched his sixth home run of the season to knot the score at three. Dobson struck again with a two-run double to left field, scoring Ryan January and Holmes.
Joey Rose wanted in on the home run action, as he launched his second homer in as many nights to left field to extend the lead to three. Holmes added to the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning on an RBI single to left field, bringing home January.
Tabor settled down after the first, throwing a strong 4.2 innings and striking out three. Boston Red Sox 2010 first round draft pick Henry Owens made his Hillsboro debut on a rehab stint, throwing 1.2 innings and striking out two.
The Dust Devils cut into the lead in the top of the seventh when Luke Becker scored on a Burgos fielder's choice, and Miller knocked in Kelvin Alarcon on a line drive that struck Owens in the right leg. Owens remained in the game but was later replaced by Josh Green.
Green lowered his earned run average to 0.77 after a strong 1.1 innings of work, allowing one hit and striking out one.
Shawn Roof's men continued to wreak havoc on the basepaths. Following a lead-off double from Jorge Perez and a Holmes walk, a double steal with an errant throw allowed Perez to score easily, padding the Hops lead.
Catcher Andy Yerzy provided some insurance, hitting a sac fly to drive in Holmes to extend the lead to four.
Wesley Rodriguez closed out the game to give the Hops their 15th win in 18 games. Hillsboro now sits four games atop of the Northwest League South Division.
