Hops Weekly: Hillsboro takes two-of-three games with Everett after All-Star Break

In the wake of a dismal series with last place Tri-City, the Hops turned things around post-All-Star Break, taking two-of-three games on the road in Everett.

Hillsboro won the first two games on Friday and Saturday, then lost a heartbreaking extra-inning affair with the home AquaSox on Sunday afternoon before heading back to Hillsboro to prep for their upcoming home series with second place Vancouver.

The Hops were solid both at the plate and on the mound at Everett, hitting at a .259 clip, while tallying a 3.51 team ERA.

Junior Franco led the Hops, going 5-for-10 in two games versus the Sox.

Last week also saw the return of 2023 Diamondbacks second round pick, Gino Groover, to Hillsboro. The North Carolina State product had missed the bulk of the season after breaking his wrist on April 9.

Groover went 3-for-14 with a double and run-scored in three games against the Sox.

Organizational news and notes…21-year-old Deyvison De Los Santos returned from injury to homer in a game at Triple-A Reno, putting his 2024 season total of homers at 28…Second baseman Andy Weber hit .400 with a home run and four RBI in three games at Double-A Amarillo this past week…Denny Larrondo allowed two hits while striking out eight in five shutout innings at Single-A Visalia…Former Hop and University of Oregon pitcher Ryne Nelson allowed one earned run while striking out nine in 5.2 innings in a start with the Diamondbacks this past weekend. Nelson has a 2.84 ERA over his last two weeks, and a 3.86 ERA over the last 30 days.

Here is a summary of last week’s Hops games:

July 19 — Hillsboro 8, Everett 6

Maybe a reset was all the Hops needed to get things turned around?

After a rough start to the second half of the 2024 season, Hillsboro got things started properly in their first game back after the All-Star break, defeating Everett 8-6 on Friday night, July 19, at Funko Field in Everett.

The Hops got five runs in the first inning, one each in the third, sixth and eighth innings, then held on as the home AquaSox rallied late for their second straight win, and third in their last four tries.

Neyfy Castillo and Christian Cerda each carded three hits for the Hops, with Castillo driving in four runs, all of which came as the result of a first-inning grand slam.

Jack Hurley and Junior Franco tallied two hits apiece, with Hurley hitting his team-leading ninth home run.

Avery Short started the game for Hillsboro on the mound, earning the win after allowing two earned runs on five hits in 5.1 innings of work.

Ryan Hawks started the game and took the loss for the Sox, allowing six earned runs in five innings.

Bill Knight and Hunter Fitz-Gerald combined to go 4-for-7 with two home runs, four RBI and three runs-scored for Everett.

July 20 — Hillsboro 7, Everett 3

Don’t look now, but the Hops are getting hot.

Hillsboro used six extra-base hits, along with a solid starting pitching performance to the tune of a 7-3 win over Everett on Saturday, July 20, at Funko Field in Everett.

The win was the third straight for the Hops and second straight over the AquaSox.

Gavin Conticello, Tommy Troy and Jean Walters all had two hits for Hillsboro who outhit the home Sox 10-6.

Roman Angelo started the game for the Hops and earned the win, allowing three earned runs on six hits over seven innings of work.

Hillsboro took a 3-0 lead after two runs in the third inning and one run in the fourth, then finished with two runs in the sixth and single runs in both the seventh and ninth innings en route to their fourth win in five games.

Arizona Diamondbacks 2023 second round pick Gino Groover went 1-for-4 with a run-scored in just his second game back, and just sixth game in a Hops uniform this season due to injury.

July 21 — Everett 5, Hillsboro 3

The streak is over.

Everett defeated Hillsboro 5-3 on Sunday afternoon, July 21, at Funko Field in Everett, ending the Hops’ three-game winning streak and denying the visitors a three-game series sweep.

In a game dominated by pitching, it was the AquaSox that made that made their hits count when it mattered most, getting an RBI single and game-winning home run in the bottom of the 11th inning to claim the extra inning win.

Caleb Cali had three RBI and the game-winning homer for the Sox, while Jared Sundstrom and Hunter Fitz-Gerald each tallied two hits.

Hillsboro was led by Junior Franco who finished 3-for-5 with an RBI.

Hops starting pitcher Jacob Steinmetz allowed one earned run on four hits, while striking out four and walking none in five innings.

Marcelo Perez was equally impressive for Everett, allowing one earned run on three hits in 4.2 innings of work.

The Hops scored a run in the first inning and didn’t score again until the extra frames, getting a run apiece in both the 10th and 11th innings. The AquaSox however didn’t blink when faced with either extra-inning deficit, tying the game in the 10th on a fielding error by third baseman Jose Fernandez, then ending it in the 11th as the result of Cali’s round-tripper.