Ramos powers Hops to third straight victory

Hillsboro entered Saturday evening's game feeling a little better about themselves. After getting swept in a three-game set in Eugene earlier in the week, the Hops had already secured the first two games of a five-game set with the Everett AquaSox. They plated four in the first inning on Saturday and cruised to an 11-2 win over the 'Sox to win their third game in a row and clinch a series victory.
Yan Sanchez got the party started in the bottom of the first with a single to right then moved to second when Bryan Araiza was hit by a pitch. Eudy Ramos singled to right to score Sanchez and take a 1-0 lead.

With one out, Drew Ellis plopped one into center to score Araiza. It was Ellis' first professional run batted in. After Tim Susnara walked to load the bases, Tra Holmes singled through the hole into left to score Pavin Smith and Ellis for his first two professional RBIs and a 4-0 Hops lead.
Hops starter Riley Smith was fantastic. He cruised through six innings of two run ball, scattering six hits and walking just one. Everett managed to chip the lead down to 4-2, but it was the closest they would be all night.
Hillsboro put the game firmly out of reach in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings. They scored two in the fifth on the strength of a Connor Owings sacrifice fly and a Dan Swain double to left. Swain's double was the first hit of his professional career in his first game as a Hillsboro Hop.
In the sixth, the Hops scored three behind a Smith single, a Holmes RBI groundout, and a throwing error on the Everett catcher.
Two more Hops came across in the seventh on an Araiza RBI groundout and a Eudy Ramos RBI single to center. By the end of the inning, Hillsboro had opened up an 11-2 lead.
Luis Castillo, Matt Peacock and Pierce Romero polished off the win for the Hops as they moved over .500 to 9-8.
It's a 4:05 start tomorrow in game four of the five-game set with Everett. Pregame radio starts at 3:30 on Rip City Radio 620 AM.