Hops Winning Streak Snapped at Two

Hillsboro, OR ---- For the time being, the Hillsboro Hops longest winning streak of the year will remain at two games. The Hops (10-26) went for their third win in as many games against the Spokane Indians (19-17), but fell two runs short, losing 4-2 in front of just over 4,000 Hillsboro faithful.

 

Just as they did last night, the Hops started off quick as they scored two runs in the first inning on a Zach Esquerra two-run blast that scored Yogey Perez-Ramos two pitches after he tripled down the left field line. The scored would remain 2-0 in favor of the Hops until the fifth inning.

 

With two outs in the their half of the fifth, Spokane scored two runs on a bases-loaded bloop single that scored two runs as it bounced over the head of Perez-Ramos in left field. The Indians took their first lead of the night on a Joe Jackson double down the left field line that scored Evan Van Hoosier. After an empty seventh, the Indians tacked on one more run in the eighth inning to extend their lead to 4-2.

 

Going into the bottom of the ninth, the Hops were looking to score their first runs since the bottom of the first inning, and were poised to do just that. After a Ryan Gebhardt single and an error on the second baseman, the Hops had runners on first and second base with nobody out with leadoff hitter Taylor Ratliff coming up to bat.

 

After two missed bunt attempts, Ratliff was struck out looking by Indians' reliever Keone Kale, who would then go on to strike out Perez-Ramos for the second out of the inning. After Perez-Ramos went down swinging, Esquerra took a five-pitch walk, which brought up George Roberts with the bases loaded. After working a 1-2 count, George Roberts struck out swinging on a ball in the dirt to end the game.

 

Hops' starter Ross Gerdeman (0-4) threw seven complete innings and allowed five hits, three runs and two walks while striking out four. Esquerra finished 1-3 with a HR and run scored, and Perez-Ramos finished 2-4 with a triple, a run scored and one walk.

 

Tomorrow, the Hops will take on the Indians for the fourth game of the five-game series. First pitch is scheduled for 1:35 p.m. Be sure to catch Rich Burk and Matt Richert as they call all the live action on Fox Sports 620 AM. Pre-game starts at 1:05.