Tri-City walks away with win over Hops in season opener
(April 6, 2023) - It was a historic day in Pasco on Opening Day 2023, as Hops' manager Ronnie Gajownik became only the second female manager in affiliated professional baseball and the first at the High-A level. Hops' catcher J.J. D'Orazio went 2-for-3 with a triple, walk and RBI in
(April 6, 2023) - It was a historic day in Pasco on Opening Day 2023, as Hops' manager Ronnie Gajownik became only the second female manager in affiliated professional baseball and the first at the High-A level. Hops' catcher J.J. D'Orazio went 2-for-3 with a triple, walk and RBI in his Hillsboro debut. Jesus Valdez, also making his High-A debut with the Hops, had a pair of hits and a run batted in. The Dust Devils sent 11 men to the plate, with a six-run seventh-inning outburst on the way to a 9-2 victory over Hillsboro in the season opener at Gesa Stadium on Thursday night.
Both starters came out of the gates hot in the first three innings on Thursday, as there were 18 batters up and 18 down to start the game. Dylan Ray struck out six over 3.1 innings, with John Swanda striking out five in four frames.
Five Hops pitchers combined to walk 10 batters and hit one, with leadoff walks in every inning from the fourth onward. The most walks by a Hops' pitching staff in a game is 11, which has happened four times previously.
DIllon Larsen turned in a solid outing in his home state, pitching two scoreless innings for Hillsboro.
The Hops outhit the home team 6-5, but 11 free passes and two errors proved too costly to overcome. Both teams used five pitchers in the game, with the four Tri-City relievers not allowing a run.
Daktoa Donovan closed the door on the Hops in the ninth, striking out the side to end the game.
Arol Vera, a top 30 infield prospect in the Los Angeles Angels system, delivered the go-ahead blow, a two-run single off Hillsboro reliever Peniel Otano. Vera finished the night 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBI. Former Oregon Duck and South Salem Saxon Gabe Matthews reached base four times, going 2-for-3 with a double and two runs batted in.
The Hops and Devils return to action with game two of the series Friday night. First pitch is at 6:30 p.m. with pregame coverage beginning at 6:15 p.m. on Rip City Radio 620 AM.