Dust Devils Held Down by Hops in Opener
HILLSBORO – SS Kendrey Maduro’s two late extra-base hits provided a couple of runs for the Tri-City Dust Devils (25-30 2H, 60-61) Tuesday night but the Hillsboro Hops (25-30 2H, 57-64) pitched tightly and scored enough to take a 4-2 victory at Hops Ballpark in the six-game series opener. Maduro’s
HILLSBORO – SS Kendrey Maduro’s two late extra-base hits provided a couple of runs for the Tri-City Dust Devils (25-30 2H, 60-61) Tuesday night but the Hillsboro Hops (25-30 2H, 57-64) pitched tightly and scored enough to take a 4-2 victory at Hops Ballpark in the six-game series opener.
Maduro’s first extra-base hit came with one out in the top of the 6th inning, a ball hit to left-center off Hillsboro hurler Caden Grice (4-6) that bounced on one hop over the wall for a ground-rule double. Two batters later, DH Ryland Zaborowski hit a spinner that snuck through the right side for an RBI single that scored Maduro to make it a 3-1 game at the time.
The Aruban’s second slugging hit came with one out two innings later, in the top of the 8th with the team down 4-1. Maduro again took Grice deep, this time just missing a home run in center. The ball hit high off the center field wall and bounced away from Hops CF Slade Caldwell, and Maduro tore to third for a triple. Caldwell’s throw ended up wide of second base and rolled to the first base side, where C Carlos Virahonda fielded it. That left the plate defenseless, and Maduro sprinted home before a throw and tag attempt could get him. The score read 4-2 on the triple plus throwing error from Caldwell, but Tri-City could get no closer.
Dust Devils starter Jose Atencio (2-4) went 4.1 innings and gave up three runs (2 ER) on three hits, striking out four along the way while walking only one. Relievers Luke Schafer (1.2 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 2 Ks) and Luke Cooper (2 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 5 Ks on his 26th birthday) helped to keep the club within striking distance.
DUST DEVILS NOTES
-RF Jorge Ruiz went 2-for-4 on the night, getting the only two hits Hops starter Patrick Forbes would allow. 3B Harold Coll added a bunt hit to close out the team’s six hits for the night.
-Despite the loss, Tri-City still holds a 14-11 lead in the season series with five games remaining this week. To demonstrate the closeness of the series in the High-A era, Tri-City has an 81-78 record against Hillsboro since 2021.
-The Vancouver Canadians gained ground on every Second Half competitor, save the Hops, Tuesday night with a 6-1 win over Spokane at Rogers Field at Nat Bailey Stadium. The Eugene Emeralds defeated the Everett AquaSox 10-4 at Everett Memorial Stadium, remaining in the overall Second Half lead. The Dust Devils now sit six games back with 11 games left in the regular season.
DJ, PLAY THAT SONG
Tri-City and Hillsboro collide in game two of their six-game series at 6:35 p.m. Wednesday night at Hops Ballpark. Right-hander Dylan Jordan (0-1, 9.75 ERA) gets the start for the Dust Devils, taking on right-hander Mason Marriott (0-1, 4.22 ERA) of the Hops.
Free broadcast coverage on the MiLB app and dustdevilsbaseball.com begins Wednesday night with the Dust Devils Pregame Show at 6:15 p.m. Fans can also watch the game for free on Bally Sports Live (Hillsboro broadcast), and via subscription on MLB.tv and the MiLB app.
Tri-City will return to host the Vancouver Canadians for the final home series of the 2026 regular season September 1-6. For tickets to the Vancouver series, visit the official ticket site, dustdevilsbaseball.com.