It was a tough end to an otherwise great series for the Hops in Everett this past week, where Hillsboro won four of the series’ seven games.
The visitors appeared poised to make that 5-of-7 headed to the ninth inning of the series finale Sunday afternoon, but a leaky bullpen ultimately blew one and three runs leads en route to a 10th inning defeat.
The week marked both the end of the season’s first half, along with the beginning of the second half.
Spokane won the first half and as a result earned a spot in this year’s league playoffs, while Hillsboro finished in second, three-and-a-half games behind the first place Indians.
The Hops are 1-2 to start the second half, having lost two of the series’ last three games.
Organizational news and notes…2023 Diamondbacks first round pick Tommy Troy played his first game since April 21 this past week, beginning his return from injury with the ACL Diamondbacks on June 18, where he went 0-for-8 with four strikeouts over three games…Hops starting pitcher Spencer Giesting and shortstop Andrew Pintar were both promoted to Double-A Amarillo this past week. Giesting had a 1.50 ERA in 60 innings pitched, while Pintar hit .304 with nine home runs in Hillsboro this season…Hops first baseman Gavin Conticello hit two home runs and had six RBI in six games in Everett…Former Hop Pavin Smith hit .400 with two home runs in six games at Triple-A Reno last week…Visalia’s Denny Larrondo struck out 11 in five innings this past week…Former Hop pitcher Slade Cecconi allowed just one earned run in nine innings pitched last week with the Diamondbacks.
Below is a summary of last week’s games:
June 18 — Everett 6, Hillsboro 0
After taking five-of-six games with Tri-City last week, things started on a different note for Hillsboro this week, with the Hops dropping their series opener with Everett 6-0 on Tuesday night, June 18, at Memorial Stadium in Everett.
Despite boasting a pitching staff that ranks fourth in ERA amongst the 120 minor league teams, this night was not theirs, as Hops pitchers walked a franchise record 15 batters, in addition to tallying three more free passes on hit-by-pitches.
Everett scored two runs in the first inning off Hops newcomer Jacob Steinmetz who was recently called up from Low-A Visalia. The 20-year-old righthander made it just two-thirds of an inning in his Hops debut, allowing two earned runs on two hits and three walks, while notching two strikeouts.
The AquaSox went on to add a run in the fifth, two more in the seventh, and a final run in the eighth.
Everett starting pitcher Michael Morales recorded his eighth win of the year and lowered his season ERA to just 2.22, allowing seven hits while striking out four in seven innings of work.
Hillsboro actually outhit the Sox 8-4 in the game and was led by Christian Cerda who went 3-for-3.
June 19 — Hillsboro 7, Everett 3…Hillsboro 4, Everett 1
A day removed from an embarrassing loss to the AquaSox in the first game of the two teams’ seven game set, Hillsboro redeemed itself, sweeping the home Sox as part of a twin bill on Wednesday, June 19, at Memorial Stadium in Everett.
The Hops won the first game 7-3 thanks in large part to a five-run fifth inning, anchored by home runs from Gavin Logan and Neyfy Castillo.
Jack Hurley and Gavin Conticello also contributed, combining to go 4-for-8 with four RBI and two runs-scored.
Avery Short was solid on the mound, allowing three earned runs on just five hits, while striking out 11 and walking two in seven innings of work.
Game 2, which was a makeup from May 5, was about a trio of Hillsboro pitchers. Alec Baker got the start and threw three innings, while relievers Landon Sims and Eli Saul pitched two apiece to close the game.
Combined, the three allowed one earned run on seven hits, while striking out eight and walking two.
The Hops managed just five hits but made the most of them with runs in the second, fourth, fifth and seventh innings.
June 20 — Hillsboro 4, Everett 2
Better late than never.
It took some time, but the Hops persevered and ultimately overcame the AquaSox in a 4-2 win on Thursday, June 20, at Memorial Stadium in Everett.
Sox starting pitcher Brandyn Garcia stymied Hillsboro over six innings, allowing just five hits while striking out 12. But when the lefthander’s stint on the mound ended, the Hops offensive barrage began, getting a run in the seventh and three more in the eighth to comeback from a 2-0 deficit en route to their third straight win.
Hillsboro was led by Manuel Pena who tallied three hits in the game, but the big Hops blow came from catcher Gavin Logan whose three-run eighth inning homer led directly to the Hillsboro win.
Roman Angleo started the game for the Hops and dazzled, allowing just two earned runs on two hits while striking out six over six innings. Angelo, however, watched the bullpen hold it down upon his departure, with Zane Russell and Alfred Morillo holding Everett hitless while striking out six over the game’s last three innings.
Hillsboro outhit Everett 11-2 in the game.
June 21 — Everett 8, Hillsboro 2
With the first half of the season behind them, Hillsboro had an opportunity to get the second half started on a winning foot. Unfortunately, Everett did too, and did so to the tune of an 8-2 win on Friday night, June 21, at Memorial Stadium in Everett.
The home AquaSox took a 2-1 lead in the first inning, then cruised on the backs of their pitching staff that allowed no earned runs while striking out nine, and who were aided by a Hops squad that left 15 runners on base.
Hillsboro starting pitcher Logan Clayton took the loss and was one of five Hops pitchers that combined to give up four home runs, two of which came off the bat of Victor Labrada who finished the game 2-for-4 with a pair of dingers, three RBI and two runs-scored.
The Hops’ Neyfy Castillo too went yard, and was one of four Hillsboro batters to tally multiple hits.
Despite the lopsided result, the game remained in the balance into the eighth inning when Everett scored four runs thanks to home runs by Josh Hood and Caleb Cali.
Sox starter Ty Cummings got the win and allowed no earned runs over his five innings of work.
June 22 — Hillsboro 7, Everett 2
A day removed from allowing four home runs, the Hops hit three of their own en route to a 7-2 win over Everett on Saturday night, June 22, at Funko Field in Everett.
Junior Franco, Jose Fernandez and Gavin Conticello all homered for Hillsboro, with Conticello finishing 3-for-5 with three RBI and a run-scored.
In all, seven Hops tallied hits, with Conticello, Franco, Manuel Pena and Jack Hurley all notching multiple knocks.
Joe Elbis who entered the game with a 1.83 ERA, continued his brilliance, allowing one earned run on eight hits, picking up his sixth win and lowering his season-long ERA to 1.77.
After falling behind 1-0 in the third inning, the Hops scored two runs in the fourth, one in the fifth, another in the sixth, and three in the eighth before allowing a final AquaSox run in the bottom of the ninth.
Ryan Hawks took the loss for Everett, allowing four earned runs in six innings.
The win was the second straight for the Hops, and ninth in their last 12 games.
June 23 — Everett 8, Hillsboro 7
That was tough.
Despite leads of both 4-0 and 7-4, the Hops managed to come out on the wrong end of their series finale with the AquaSox on Sunday, June 23, at Funko Field in Everett.
Hillsboro reliever Yordin Chalas allowed a run in the bottom of the ninth inning that sent the game to extra innings, then after the Hops plated three in the top half of the 10th, reliever Eli Saul allowed four runs in the bottom half of that same inning that resulted in an 8-7 defeat.
The Hops built a 4-0 lead over the game’s first 6.5 innings before the Sox pulled within 4-3 in the bottom of the seventh inning, and ultimately tied it in the ninth.
Manuel Pena hit a three-run homer for Hillsboro in the top of the 10th inning to again put the visitors ahead, but Everett parlayed five singles into four runs in the bottom half of the inning to earn the win.
Jacob Steinmetz started the game on the mound for the Hops and allowed two earned runs on just four hits in six innings of work.
Offensively, Hillsboro was led by Pena who finished the game 2-for-5 with a home run, three RBI and two runs-scored.
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