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MLB

Hillsboro records eleventh shutout victory

Hops pitching staff sets new NWL record
By Preston Toulon
September 5, 2015

HILLSBORO, OR - The Hillsboro Hops may just be hitting their stride as they sprint towards the regular season finish line. After a second-half swoon saw the Hops drop five out of six games, Hillsboro has reestablished their identity and dominance. Friday, the Hops pitched their way to their second consecutive shutout with a 2-0 victory over the Eugene Emeralds. It is the eleventh shutout Hillsboro pitching has recorded this season, a new record in the Northwest League.

Friday night was the first game of a critical three game series between the Hops and Emeralds. The Hops clinched the playoffs by winning the first half of the NWL. Eugene is still trying to clinch the playoffs by winning the second half and led the Hops by a single game entering Friday's contest. After the Hops' victory, the two teams are now tied atop the division.

If the Hops were to win both halves of the season, the second playoff participant in the NWL-South would come down to the next best overall season record. With Eugene's loss and Salem-Keizer's victory on Friday, the teams hold identical 38-36 records. Salem-Keizer is eliminated from second-half contention, but can still clinch the playoffs if Hillsboro wins the second half and if Salem's overall record is better than Eugene's.

Got all that? Good. Because there really was a baseball game played between the Hops and Emeralds. Justin Donatella got the spot start for Hillsboro (43-31, 21-15) and was excellent. In his first start in the NWL, the former UC-San Diego Triton threw five shutout innings, allowing just two hits and striking out two. He left the game with a two-run lead and the bullpen foursome of Tucker Ward, Breckin Williams, Cameron Gann, and Taylor Clarke made it stand up.

The Hops scored the game's only two runs in the bottom of the third inning. Emeralds (38-36, 21-15) starter Kyle Twomey struck out the first two batters of the frame, but then walked Dansby Swanson. Grant Heyman moved Swanson to third with a single, and Eugene went to the bullpen.

Preston Morrison entered with two outs and runners on the corner, and Trevor Mitsui, the Hops single-season RBI leader, ripped a double just inside the third-base bag. Swanson and Heyman scored without a throw and the Hops had all they needed.

The unquestioned best pitching staff in the league was again electric. Five Hillsboro pitchers combined for a 3-hit shutout to post their second in as many days. It's the eleventh time this season Hops pitchers have shutout their opponents this season, establishing a new Northwest League record.

The last 5:03 start time of the season is Saturday. It's a massive game for the Eugene Emeralds as they try to clinch a second-half playoff berth. Coverage begins at 4:30 on Rip City Radio 620 AM and at www.ripcityradio.com.

#AllHoppedUp