Hops Set Franchise Record, Win Third Straight Home Game

Hillsboro, OR ---- The Hillsboro Hops entered uncharted territory tonight in franchise history as they beat the Tri-City Dust Devils 6-3, securing their third straight win at home, the first time that has ever happened in Hops history. The game was an odd one, as there was, among other things, a 6-2-5-2-7 putout, a 37 minute rain delay, and an illegal slide into second base that negated a Hops game-tying run.

 

The Dust Devils (6-10) drew first blood as they scored two runs in the top of the third and another run, which would probe to be their last, in the top of the fourth. Starter Braden Shipley made his eighth start of the year and allowed three runs (all earned), on six hits and two walks while striking out six.

 

After giving up the third run to the Dust Devils, the Hops (9-7) bounced back for two runs in the bottom of the fourth. The first run scored as a deluge of rain started to pound Hillsboro Ballpark. After allowing his first walk of the night, Dust Devils starter Johendi Jiminian threw two straight wild pitches, the second of which scored Brian Billigen from third base. After the rain delay, the Hops scored one more run on an Elvin Soto single through the right side of the infield that scored George Roberts.

 

The Hops scored one in the bottom of the sixth on a Randy McCurry sacrifice fly to center field, which knotted the score at three apiece. The third Hops run had supposedly scored in the bottom of the fifth, but McCurry was called back from third base after John Leonard tried to break up a double play with what was called an illegal slide.

 

After blanking the Dust Devils in the top of the seventh, the Hops took their first lead of the game, one that they would not give up. They scored three runs on a Brian Billigen double that scored Taylor Ratliff. The extra base hit was followed by another double by Yogey Perez-Ramos to the left field fence to put the score at 5-3. After a wild pitch, Perez-Ramos found himself on third base, where Roberts would score him with a sacrifice fly to right field to score the game's ninth and final run.

 

Every Hop in the starting lineup either scored a run, had an RBI or recorded a hit. Soto finished 2-for-4 with one RBI and McCurry continued his hot streak with a 2-for-3 night that finished with one run batted in.

 

The Hops play the lone day game of the series tomorrow with first pitch scheduled for 1:35 p.m. Austin Platt is scheduled to make the start for the injured Jose Martinez. Be sure to catch the game as Rich Burk and Matt Richert call all of the live action on Fox Sports 620 AM.