Vancouver Breaks Through, Beats Hops

VANCOUVER, B.C. --- Hillsboro, having snapped a scoreless tie with a run in the top of the 10th inning, was this close to becoming the first visiting club in six years to win four games in a five-game series in Vancouver. But the Canadians scored twice in the bottom of the 10th to steal a 2-1 win.

Austin Platt of the Hops and Miguel Castro of the Canadians settled into a pitchers' duel, with each going six innings. The Hops lost an opportunity to break through in the top of the third. With runners at second and third and one out, third baseman Taylor Ard popped out to second and left-fielder Grant Heyman struck out.

That would be Hillsboro's last real opportunity until the 10th. Vancouver, on the other hand, squandered many chances. They left a runner at second in both the second and third innings, and had the bases loaded with one out in the fifth. Platt fell behind DH Max Pentecost 3-0, but worked the count to 3-2. Pentecost grounded into an inning-ending double play.

Two innings later, Pentecost came up with the bases loaded again, this time with two out against Dustin Loggins, and blistered a line drive caught by Hops shortstop Galli Cribbs Jr. And for good measure, the Canadians left a runner at second base in the eighth and ninth innings. Loggins got Michael De La Cruz to ground into an inning-ending double play in the eighth, and Mason McCullough retired Franklin Barreto on a fly ball to right to end the ninth.

In the top of the 10th, with the game still scoreless, Hops right fielder Steve Nyisztor began the inning with a double off the left-field fence. Pedro Ruiz, unable to bunt Nyisztor to third, flew out to left field. Nyisztor did get to third base on a wild pitch, and pinch-hitter George Roberts punched one past the drawn-in shortstop to score the first run of the game.

Mike Cetta came out of the Hops' bullpen looking to earn his first save. Pentecost led it off with an infield hit to short, and Seth Conner sacrificed him to second. Chris Carlson doubled to right to tie the game, and after Boomer Collins struck out looking, the Hops were an out away from sending the game to the 11th. But De La Cruz ripped a shot up the middle, just out or reach of Ruiz's diving effort, to win the game and send the sellout crowd of 5,157 into a frenzy.

Hillsboro is 3-2 in the second half, and 25-18 overall. They open a three-game homestand on Sunday at 4:05 PM against Boise, and it will be the Hops' first game at home since winning the first-half South Division title last week in Eugene. Right-hander Nick Baker (3-0, 2.57) starts Sunday's game for Hillsboro. Righty Erick Leal (3-2, 5.40) goes for Boise. The pregame show on Rip City Radio 620 AM and www.foxsportsradio620.com begins at 3:35 PM.