August 8, 2026 (Pasco, WA) - The Hillsboro Hops had plenty of opportunities to get on the scoreboard in a big way on Saturday night, but couldn’t find the big hit. The Hops went 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position and grounded into inning-ending double plays in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. In a game shortened by heavy smoke in the area after 6.5 innings, the Tri-City Dust Devils jumped out to an early lead and held on for an 8-2 victory over the Hops at Gesa Stadium. Hillsboro had won the first three games of the series, but the loss means the Hops will need a win in Sunday’s finale to leave Pasco with a series victory. Jakey Josepha provided much of the Hops’ offensive production, collecting two doubles and reaching base three times. Kayson Cunningham added an RBI double in the seventh, while Adrian Rodriguez and Jose Alpuria each collected two hits.
Tri-City struck first in the opening inning against Hillsboro starter Mason Marriott, who would later be chased from the game after recording just one out. After Harold Coll walked and Hayden Alvarez reached base, Ryland Zaborowski lined an RBI double to left field to score Coll. A throwing error by catcher Kenny Castillo on a pickoff attempt allowed Alvarez to score, and Nicholson followed with a sacrifice fly to bring home Jorge Ruiz.
The Dust Devils added another run later in the inning when Burns singled home Zaborowski, giving Tri-City a 4-0 advantage in the first.
Hillsboro threatened to answer in the second. Josepha lined his first of two doubles in the game into right field and moved to third on a groundout, but the Hops couldn't bring him home.
The Hops again put together a promising rally in the fourth. Alpuria singled, Josepha was hit by a pitch and Avery Owusu-Asiedu followed with a sharp single to load the bases with nobody out. But the opportunity disappeared when Diosfran Cabeza grounded into a 6-4-3 double play to end the frame.
Tri-City extended its lead in the third. Mershon and Burns opened the frame with singles before Ortiz drove home Burns with a base hit. Mershon later scored on a sacrifice fly by Gage Harrelson, and Ortiz came around to score on an interference error charged to Rodriguez. Hillsboro finally broke through in the third when JD Dix reached on a fielder's choice to bring home Rodriguez, trimming the deficit to 7-1.
John West settled things down for the Hops after entering in the fourth inning. The right-hander worked three innings, allowing three hits and one run while striking out one and keeping Tri-City off the board in the fifth.
But Hillsboro's offense continued to struggle to capitalize on its chances. The Hops put runners on base again in the fifth, with walks to Cunningham and Caldwell and a hit-by-pitch for Dix loading the bases, but again would ground into an inning-ending double play.
One inning later, Hillsboro once again put two runners aboard before Cabeza grounded into another inning-ending double play — the third consecutive inning in which the Hops ended a frame with a twin killing.
Tri-City added its final run in the sixth when Nicholson singled home Alvarez, who had doubled earlier in the inning.
Hillsboro managed one final run in the seventh. Dix reached base and scored when Cunningham lined a double into center, bringing the Hops within six at 8-2. The game was then called after the top of the seventh because of heavy smoke in the area,
Peter Burns led the way, going 3-for-4 for his second consecutive three-hit game. He drove in a run in the first inning and helped set the table for the Dust Devils throughout the night. David Mershon and Capri Ortiz each added two hits, while Ryan Nicholson finished with two hits and two RBI.
The Hops finished with seven hits, including Josepha's two doubles, but couldn't overcome their struggles with runners in scoring position. Tri-City went 5-for-10 in those situations.
After taking the first three games, the Hops will return to Gesa Stadium Sunday looking to finish the road trip with a series win. First pitch for the series finale is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.