Queliz delivers extra-inning playoff winner

For the second straight game, Jose Queliz came through when his team needed it most.

The D-backs catching prospect drilled a walk-off single down the left-field line in the 10th inning to lift Class A Short Season Hillsboro over Eugene, 4-3, in Game 1 of the Northwest League semifinals at Ron Tonkin Field.

The Hops jumped out to the early lead when Luis Veras deposited a solo homer over the left-field fence. The Emeralds responded an inning later with a solo shot by Robert Garcia.

After the teams traded runs in the fourth, Eugene moved in front in the fifth on an RBI single by Yeiler Peguero that scored Kevonte Mitchell. But Hillsboro tied the game again in the eighth when Luke Lowery scored from third on a passed ball by Emeralds catcher Tyler Payne that eventually sent the game to extras.

Hops reliever Curtis Taylor (1-0) kept Eugene off the scoreboard in 10th. A double by Mark Karaviotis with one out in the bottom of the frame moved the winning run into scoring position against reliever Michael Rucker (0-1). The Emeralds right-hander struck out Josh Anderson and intentionally walked Luke Lowery to bring up Queliz.

The 24-year-old catcher entered as a defensive replacement in the ninth for starting backstop Matt McPhearson. He hit just .200 in 14 games with Hillsboro after coming back from Class A Kane County on July 7. 

But in the regular-season finale against Eugene two days earlier, Queliz came through by snapping a 1-1 tie with a three-run homer. The Hops went on to win that game, 6-1.

This time, the 2012 international free agent worked a 2-1 count against Rucker before smashing the fourth pitch past the reach of third baseman Wladimir Galindo. Karaviotis scored standing up.

With the win, Hillsboro improved to 8-5 against the Emeralds this year and have won the last four matchups.

The series shifts to Eugene for Game 2 on Thursday.

In other Northwest League playoff action:

Indians-AquaSox, postponed