Sanchez Hits for Cycle to Lead Hops' Record Night

KEIZER, ORE. --- Yan Sanchez became the first player in Hillsboro Hops history to hit for the cycle on Wednesday night, leading the team to a 17-2 win at Salem-Keizer. Hillsboro notched 25 hits --- the hits and runs scored were both single-game franchise records.
The Hops (12-9) moved alone into first place in the South Division for the first time since June 21st. They are one game up on both Eugene and Boise, with 17 games remaining in the first-half pennant race. Hillsboro is three games above .500 for the first time this year.

Sanchez --- being groomed as a superutilityman by the Arizona Diamondbacks, and playing shortstop on Wednesday --- singled leading off the game, but was thrown out attempting to steal second base. He homered leading off the third (which broke a scoreless tie), walked in the fourth, struck out in the fifth, and tripled in the seventh. In the eighth, needing a double to complete the cycle, he smoked one into the left-center field gap and pulled into second base clapping his hands. He popped out in the 9th and finished the night 4-for-6.
Hops catcher Daulton Varsho also had a big night, becoming the fifth player in franchise history with five hits in one game (he went 5-for-6). His three-run homer in the ninth gave him five runs batted in.
DH Eudy Ramos also went deep for Hillsboro. For all three players who homered --- Sanchez, Ramos and Varsho --- it was their second of the season.
Eight of the nine players in the Hops lineup had at least two hits, including Pavin Smith (4-for-5), Bryan Araiza (3-for-4) and Drew Ellis (3-for-6).
Hops starting pitcherConnor Gray (3-1), somewhat overshadowed by the offensive show, had another strong outing. He worked six innings (on just 72 pitches), allowing one run on three hits, with no walks and four strikeouts. In his last 13 innings over two starts, he has allowed just three runners into scoring position, only two as far as third base, with one run scored.
Luis Castillo (two scoreless innings) and Anfernee Benitez (one inning, one run) finished up for Hillsboro. The Hops' bullpen ERA now sits at 1.67.
Salem-Keizer second baseman Orlando Garcia hit his first professional home run in the bottom of the fourth, the only run allowed by Grey.
The Hops continue their road trip on Thursday, opening a five-game series in Spokane. The radio pregame show begins at 6PM on Rip City Radio 620AM.