Hops earn second straight 4-2 victory over Vancouver

Déjà vu? Nope.

After defeating Vancouver in their series opener, 4-2, a day earlier, the Hops defeated the Canadians by the same score in Game 2 of their six-game series Wednesday night, July 24, at Hillsboro Ballpark.

Opposed to the night before where they took an early lead and kept it, on this night the Hops fell behind before scratching their way back for their second straight win, and fifth in their last six tries.

Hillsboro starting pitcher Joe Elbis allowed two first-inning runs, but settled in to allow just four hits over the subsequent five shutout innings before handing the game over to the bullpen.

After falling behind 2-0, the Hops managed runs in the third, fifth, seventh and eighth innings, led by Manuel Pena who finished 2-for-3 with a triple, RBI and run-scored.

Jack Hurley and Jose Fernandez also tallied two hits in the game, and left fielder Junior Franco notched two RBI despite not logging a base hit. Franco was responsible for the game-winning RBI when his seventh-inning groundout plated Christian Cerda.

Eli Saul earned the win for Hillsboro and was one of three relievers to allow two hits and not earned runs over the game’s final three innings.

Kai Peterson took the loss for Vancouver, allowing the game-winning run in the seventh.

The two teams will face-off again at 7:05 p.m. this evening, at Hillsboro Ballpark.