Brooms and Smiles at Ron Tonkin Field

On dental health awareness day, Hillsboro sent left-hander Michel Gelabert to the mound opposing Niels Stone of Eugene. Gelabert lasted five innings scattering three hits and two runs while passing out three pairs of shoes (as Dennis Eckersley calls it). It was the opposite story for Eugene's righty, as the Hops offense stayed hot and chased Stone after an inning and two-thirds of work.

Eugene struck first on a top of the second inning on a Brandon Vicens fielder's choice and throwing error.
The Hops went to work in the bottom of the frame as catcher Nick Dalesandro roped a single up the middle, scoring former Georgia Tech infielder Tristin English. David Garza came into score on a passed ball, and Dalesandro crossed the plate on a Ricky Martinez fielder's choice. The big blow of the inning Andy Yerzy continued his torrid stretch by homering to right field.
Hillsboro and Eugene traded zeros until the top of the fifth inning, when Luis Diaz of Eugene came into score on a balk call, and Fernando Kelli drove in Edmond Americaan by means of an RBI single. Martinez gave the Hops a much needed insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning with a sacrifice fly, plating Nick Grande.
The Hops bullpen was excellent again, as Justin Douglas Garcia threw two innings of shutout ball with two strikeouts, and Erin Baldwin picked up his first save of the 2019 campaign.
Trouble was brewing in the top half of the ninth as Eugene pushed another run across on a Luis Vazquez single but Baldwin was able to slam the door punching out the final out of the game.
Hillsboro takes the long drive north to Vancouver for a three game set before returning home on July 4th against the Spokane Indians.
The Hops took three of four from Vancouver in their first meeting. First pitch tomorrow night is at 7:05 pm, and can be heard on Rip City Radio 620 AM. Tune into the pregame show starting at 6:35pm.