PASCO – The Tri-City Dust Devils (19-22 2H, 54-53) used another early burst of runs and inning-ending double plays in three consecutive innings to claim an 8-2 victory over the Hillsboro Hops (18-23 2H, 50-57) at Gesa Stadium, where smoke from regional wildfires caused the umpires to call the game after the 7th inning stretch.
The game started under much clearer skies with Tri-City starter Mason McGwire, making his Dust Devils and Angels organizational debut, striking out two in a 1-2-3 top of the 1st inning. The offense then ambushed Hillsboro starter Mason Marriott (0-1), scoring four runs on him while only making one out. LF Jorge Ruiz singled to start the bottom of the 1st, and both CF Hayden Alvarez and 3B Harold Coll walked to load the bases with no one out. 1B Ryan Nicholson hit a deep sac fly to left, scoring Ruiz for a 1-0 lead.
DH Ryland Zaborowski then came up and had a long battle with Marriott. Late in the at-bat, Hops C Kenny Castillo attempted to pick Coll off of first, but his throw ended up in right field. Alvarez raced from second and rounded third for home, sliding in before the tag of Castillo to score and make it 2-0. Zaborowski followed the chaos by smacking an RBI double down the left field line to bring in Coll, who advanced to second on the error, to give Tri-City a 3-0 lead. C Peter Burns kept the line moving, sending an RBI single up the middle that plated Zaborowski for a 4-0 advantage. The Dust Devils ultimately batted around in the 1st.
After Hillsboro pushed a run across on a fielder’s choice in the top of the 3rd, Burns and 2B David Mershon set the table in the bottom of the inning. Burns blooped a single to left and Mershon laid down his second bunt hit of the night, putting two on in front of SS Capri Ortiz. He then skipped a ball up the middle and through for an RBI single, plating Burns to push the lead to 5-1. RF Gage Harrelson lined a sac fly to left that brought Mershon home, making it 6-1, and Ortiz then utilized his great speed to score. He stole third on a pickoff attempt and then tried to get home, making contact with Hops 3B Adrian Rodriguez. Interference was called and Ortiz was awarded home plate, giving his team a 7-1 lead.
The tops of the 4th, 5th and 6th innings all finished with inning-ending double plays turned by the Tri-City infield. A 4-6-3 double play induced by McGwire ended both the 4th inning and the starter’s debut, closing up four innings of one-run ball with four strikeouts. Reliever Jaren Warwick (1-0) induced both a 6-4-3 turning of two to finish the 5th and then served as the final piece of a 3-6-1 twin killing ending the 6th. Nicholson lined an RBI single to center in the 6th, extending the lead to 8-1, and the Hops got a run-scoring double in the 7th as the smoke rolled in.
After the stretch both managers and the umpires conferred and, after further discussion, the umpires called the game due to the growing smoke.
DUST DEVILS NOTES
-Peter Burns went 3-for-4, putting together his second three-hit game in as many nights. The left-hand hitting catcher also got to face his Boston College teammate, righty John West, twice in the game. He singled off West in the first clash, with West striking him out to end the 6th. Burns has hit .500 (5-for-10) with a pair of doubles and five RBI against West in their respective pro careers.
-The hit column has been highly predictive in the team’s season series in 2026. One team has outhit the other in 22 of the Dust Devils and Hops’ 23 games so far this year, and the team with more hits holds a 20-2 record.
-Northwest League action Saturday saw the Spokane Indians grab their first win of the week, walking off the Eugene Emeralds 7-6 at Avista Stadium. At Everett Memorial Stadium the Vancouver Canadians held on for an 11-8 win over the Everett AquaSox, putting Tri-City two games back of both Everett and Spokane in the Second Half playoff race.
ANOTHER SPLIT?
Tri-City and Hillsboro wrap up their six-game series with the finale at 7:05 p.m. Sunday night at Gesa Stadium. The first 500 fans through the gates will receive a 25th Season Commemorative Jersey, thanks to Papa Murphy’s.
Right-hander Chase Shores (2-2, 5.57 ERA), who won his last start, heads to the bump for the Dust Devils. The Hops will give the ball to right-hander Kyle Ayers (5-4, 5.54 ERA).
Free broadcast coverage on the MiLB app and dustdevilsbaseball.com will begin with the Dust Devils Pregame Show at 6:45 p.m. Fans can also watch the game for free on Bally Sports Live (Tri-City broadcast), and via subscription on MLB.tv and the MiLB app.
For tickets to Sunday’s finale with the Hops, as well as all 2026 Dust Devils home games, visit the official ticket site, dustdevilsbaseball.com.