Hillsboro, OR (August 11)- The Hillsboro Hops squeezed past the Eugene Emeralds with a 5-4 win on Thursday night. The Hops pitching staff combined to strike out twelve batters. Offensively, Ivan Luciano led the day with two RBI.
In his first at-bat for the Hillsboro Hops, catcher Luciano hit a two-run shot to right field in the second inning, putting the Hops on the board, 2-0.
Starter Jacob Steinmeitz struck out the side in the top of the third, keeping the momentum going for Hillsboro. With two outs in the bottom of the frame, Kayson Cunningham hit a rallying single, and Carlos Virahonda was hit by a pitch to put two runners on. Both runners stole a base, and a throwing error by Eugene catcher Daniel Rogers scored Cunningham. Jakey Josepha doubled to extend the Hops' lead, 4-0.
Steinmeitz threw four shutout innings, striking out six and walking three. He allowed just two hits, setting it up for Rio Britton to take over with a nice lead in the fifth. Britton allowed a leadoff single and a two-run two-out homer to Lisbel Diaz, making it a 4-2 ballgame.
Despite giving up four earned runs, Eugene starter Ramon Marquez held it down for four innings, striking out eight batters. Hunter Dryden took the ball in the fifth, also throwing four innings. He struck out three and gave up three hits.
José Mejía and Slade Caldwell both singled in the seventh, Caldwell bringing Mejía in to make it 5-2. With two outs and one on in the top of the eighth, Cam Maldonado hit a two-run long ball, inching closer to the Hops' lead, 5-4.
Britton went five innings, securing the win, recording six strikeouts, and allowing four runs on six hits.
Game two of the three-game set in Hillsboro will begin at 6:35 PM on Wednesday. The pregame show starts at 6:20 PM on 620 AM RipCity Radio and BallyLive.