Missed Opportunities for Hops in Loss
Hillsboro, OR (June 8, 2023) – For the second time in 2023, the Hops and Indians would need extra innings to settle things. Game four of the series at Ron Tonkin Field saw 23 total runners left on base with multiple missed chances by both sides. Spokane was 5-for-18 with
Hillsboro, OR (June 8, 2023) – For the second time in 2023, the Hops and Indians would need extra innings to settle things. Game four of the series at Ron Tonkin Field saw 23 total runners left on base with multiple missed chances by both sides. Spokane was 5-for-18 with runners in scoring position and the Hops were 2-for-12, in the Spokane 6-3 win.
Spencer Giesting cruised through the first three hitters of the Spokane order one-two-three in the first and his offense would later give him an early lead in the bottom of the frame. The first three batters for the Hops reached base, with Jonathan Guzman recording an RBI single, Kevin Graham a sacrifice fly and Gavin Logan a bases loaded walk. The former second round pick from LSU, Jaden Hill, was chased from the game after throwing 34 pitches, walking three batters and a hit-by-pitch.
The former Oregon Duck, Cullen Kafka, got the Dust Devils out of the jam in the first and then proceeded to throw three scoreless innings.
Benny Montgomery got Spokane on the board in the third, an RBI single to make it a two-run deficit. Jordan Beck was up with runners on second and third and flew out to end the threat.
The Indians would threaten again in the fifth, putting two on with two out for Yanquiel Fernandez. Fernandez, who currently leads the Northwest League in all triple crown categories, struck out for the third time against Giesting. Guerrero then swung away at a 3-1 count with the bases loaded and grounded out. That would be the final pitch Giesting threw, 84 pitches over five innings while allowing just one run.
Spokane trailed 3-1 in the 6th, but tied things up with four straight singles against Zach Barnes. The bases were loaded with nobody out and a run already in, when Adael Amador grounded into a double play, scoring the second run of the inning and tying the game.
Zach Barnes and Dillon Larsen each had one-two-three innings in the seventh and eighth, keeping the game tied. Larsen needed just seven pitches in each inning.
Wilderd Patino extended his hit streak to 10 games in the eighth, but was left on base in scoring position. Patino is the 27th player in franchise history with a 10-game hit streak.
In the ninth, the Indians had two players thrown out at second base and couldn’t plate the go-ahead run.
Braiden Ward pinch ran as the runner on second to start the tenth and advanced to third on a groundball to shortstop, sliding under the tag of Valdez on a play at the bag. A high chopper back up the box scored Ward to give Spokane a 4-3 lead. Then, Ronaiker Palma added to the lead with a 2-out RBI double, his third hit of the game. Ben Sems then singled to add an insurance run and make it 6-3.
Hillsboro went quietly in the tenth, losing their fourth straight game to the Indians by a 6-3 final.
Game five of the series will be tomorrow at Ron Tonkin Field. The pregame show starts at 6:50, with first pitch at 7:05 on Portland’s CW, Bally Live and Rip City Radio 620.