Hops Start Second Half With a Win

First baseman George Roberts drove home four runs with a single and a double to lead the Hillsboro Hops to a 9-6 win at Salem-Keizer on Tuesday night.

 

After posting a won-loss record of 11-27 in the first half, the Hops are 1-0 in the second half of the split-season format. It was Hillsboro's first win in seven tries against Salem-Keizer, the first-half South Division winner.

 

The Hops tied the game 1-1 in the top of the second on a run-scoring single by Ryan Gebhardt, then took a 5-1 lead with four runs-three unearned-in the top of the third, highlighted by Roberts' two-run single and a run-scoring hit from Jordan Parr. Zach Esquerra drove home a run with a base hit in the top of the fourth for a 6-2 Hops lead, but Salem-Keizer scored three runs-two unearned-in the bottom of the fourth to trim the Hops' lead to 6-5.

 

Hillsboro responded with three runs in the sixth, led by Roberts' two-out, two-run double and a double by Elvin Soto that scored Roberts.

 

Hops starter Braden Shipley-making is fifth professional start-allowed five singles and two runs (one earned) in two and two-thirds innings. He walked none and struck out three.

 

Austin Platt succeeded Shipley and earned the win with four and a third innings of relief. Will Locante pitched around two walks, striking out the side in the bottom of the eighth, and Jimmie Sherfy whiffed the side in order in the bottom of the ninth-all on sliders-to earn his second save in two chances.

 

Hillsboro has two more games in Keizer, at 6:35 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday. The pregame show on Fox Sports Radio 620 and online at www.foxsportsradio620.com begins at 6:05 p.m. each night. Rich Burk and Austin Melhart will call the action.

 

Hillsboro returns home on Friday to begin a five-game series against the Mariners' affiliate, the Everett Aquasox. Friday's game begins at 1:35, followed by Saturday at 7:05, Sunday at 5:35 and Monday and Tuesday of next week at 7:05 (all times p.m.).