September 5 (Hillsboro, OR)- The Hillsboro Hops could not find the edge over the Eugene Emeralds in the Saturday night back-and-forth battle, taking a 5-4 loss. Hops’ starter Jacob Steinmetz threw a gem, going five-and-two-thirds with one earned run on two hits and nine strikeouts.
After Steinmetz threw a three-up, three-down first inning, the Hops offense kept the energy going in the bottom of the frame. José Mejía singled to reach base, setting up Kayson Cunningham to hit his fifth homer of the year to right field to put the Hops up 2-0. JD Dix and Yassel Soler both singled in the inning, but did not score.
After issuing a leadoff walk, Steinmetz allowed back-to-back singles, allowing the Emeralds to score their first run of the game. A throwing error by Soler put a runner on first and scored a run, tying the game at 2-2.
With one out in the fourth, Ivan Luciano doubled to put the Hops in scoring position. Chris Katz and Yerland Nin both drew walks to load the bases. A wild pitch by Eugene starter Hunter Dryden scored Luciano, giving the Hops their lead back, 3-2. A fielding error by third baseman Dalton Wentz scored Katz and extended the Hops' lead to 4-2.
Steinmetz had a stellar start on the mound, throwing five and two-thirds innings, recording nine strikeouts, and one earned run on two hits. Luke Craig took over in the sixth, going one and a third scoreless with one strikeout.
Joe Ariola entered the game in the eighth, giving up a leadoff single, followed by a double to score a run for the Emeralds. Catcher Carlos Virahonda caught a runner stealing to escape the inning, with the Hops still up 4-3.
Ariola started the ninth off with a strikeout, but quickly lost control of the inning. He allowed a single, followed by a double and a walk to load the bases. A fielding error by Cunningham at shortstop scored two runs, putting Eugene up once again at 5-4. Ariola struck out three over two innings, with one earned run on four hits.
With a three-up, three-down ninth inning, the Hops took a 5-4 loss against the Emeralds.
The Hops' last game of the season begins at 1:05 PM on Sunday. The pregame show will start at 12:45 PM on 620 AM RipCity Radio and BallyLive.