Nelson Shines, Hops Could Not Hold On

The Hillsboro Hops were defeated 2-1 to open the series against the Boise Hawks. The Hops have now dropped six out of seven since the All-Star break.  
Ryne Nelson started the game for the Hops and brought his best stuff of the year. The hard-throwing right-hander tossed three scoreless innings with six punchouts. Nelson also had an outstanding catch in the third inning when Robert Metz torched a line drive back to the mound, robbing him of a base hit. Wilfry Cruz entered the game in relief with another three scoreless frames. 

Hilsboro got on the board first when hot-hitting newcomer Corbin Carroll slugged a triple, and later scored on a wild pitch. In just six games since joining the Hops, the Diamonbacks top draft selection has five extra base hits, three being triples.  
Boise struck back with a run in the seventh and eighth to take the lead 2-1. The Hops bullpen that had been so consistent early on has struggled as of late. The Hops made things interesting when Jorge Barrosa tripled with two down, but was left stranded on a close play at first base on a ground-out by Dominic Canzone.  
Hillsboro (35-23) and Boise (24-34) will face off again tomorrow at 7:05 pm. Catch all the action on Rip City Radio 620 AM.