Pasco, WA (August 7, 2026) -The Hillsboro Hops had plenty of chances to extend their winning streak Friday night, but four defensive miscues proved too costly to overcome. Hillsboro committed four errors, three of which directly contributed to runs, as the Tri-City Dust Devils broke open the game early and held on for a 9-3 victory at Gesa Stadium. The loss snapped the Hops’ seven-game winning streak, but they still lead the series 3-1. Avery Owusu-Asiedu provided Hillsboro’s biggest offensive highlight, launching his team-leading 13th home run of the season in the seventh inning.
The Hops had briefly taken a 1-0 lead in the second. Jose Alpuria reached base and eventually scored when Clark lifted a single into left field, giving Hillsboro its first lead of the night and an early lead for the fourth straight game of the week.
The game turned decisively in the bottom of the third. After Hillsboro starter Caden Grice retired the first two batters, Tri-City began to capitalize on both walks and defensive mistakes. Jorge Ruiz reached on an error by first baseman Diosfran Cabeza, allowing Peter Burns to score and putting two runners in scoring position. A balk by Gonzalez then brought home another run before Kevyn Castillo reached on a two-run error by shortstop Wallace Clark. Kendrey Maduro's sacrifice fly capped the five-run inning and gave the Dust Devils a 5-1 advantage.
Tri-City added another run in the fourth, again with help from the Hops' defense. David Mershon singled and advanced to second when Alpuria misplayed the ball in right field. Mershon later scored on a Hayden Alvarez single, extending the Dust Devils' lead to 6-1.
Hillsboro answered in the fifth when Slade Caldwell drove in Owusu-Asiedu with a double to right field. Caldwell's 13th double of the season represented the Hops' lone extra-base hit aside from Owusu-Asiedu's homer.
But Tri-City continued to apply pressure. Burns singled home Kevyn Castillo in the bottom of the fifth, restoring the five-run cushion at 7-2. Owusu-Asiedu's 429-foot homer in the seventh gave Hillsboro a brief spark, but ultimately wasn’t enough, He finished the night with two hits, a walk, a stolen base and his 35th RBI of the season.
The Dust Devils added more to the board in the eighth. Kendrey Maduro launched a two-run homer off Alexis Liebano, his first High-A homer, to push Tri-City's lead to 9-3. Earlier in the inning, Jorge Ruiz had advanced to third on a throwing error by catcher Carlos Virahonda, giving the Hops their fourth defensive error of the night.
The four errors — by Cabeza, Clark, Alpuria and Virahonda — ultimately made the difference. Tri-City scored nine runs on nine hits, while Hillsboro scored three runs on five hits.
Grice was charged with the loss after allowing five runs, although only one earned over 2⅔ innings. Joangel Gonzalez followed with 3⅓ innings, allowing two runs, while Liebano surrendered two runs over two innings.
The Hops managed just five hits against Tri-City pitching and went 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position.
For Tri-City, Peyton Olejnik earned the win after working 5⅓ innings and allowing three runs, two earned. Francis Texido and Sam Tookoian combined to hold the Hops scoreless over the final 3⅔ innings.
The Hops will look to bounce back Saturday as the series continues at Gesa Stadium with a first pitch at 7:05 on Rip City Radio 620 AM.