Hot Hops stay that way with 13-4 win over Canadians

Keep ‘em comin’.

The Hops’ hot streak continued with a 13-4 win over Vancouver on Thursday night, July 25, at Hillsboro Ballpark.

The win was the fourth straight for Hillsboro (11-16) and sixth in seven games, and in light of two straight Spokane losses, pulled the fifth place Hops within eight games of the first place Indians in the NWL second half standings.

The Hops wasted little time jumping on the visiting Canadians, scoring five runs in the first inning and three runs apiece in both the second and third innings, touching up Vancouver starter, Connor O'Halloran, for 11 earned runs in just two innings of work.

Hillsboro got home runs from both Gino Groover and Wilderd Patino, the first of the season for both.

Groover finished 2-for-3 with three RBI and three runs-scored, while Patino was 2-for-4 with three RBI and a run-scored.

Jose Fernandez also had two hits and three RBI for the Hops who tallied 10 hits overall and making the most of their scoring opportunities, going 6-for-10 with runners in scoring position. To the contrary, Vancouver was just 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position.

Dasan Brown hit his second home run of the series and eighth of the year for Vancouver.

Hillsboro starting pitcher Jose Cabrera allowed three earned runs on six hits in four innings.

Junior Cerda got the win for the Hops and combined with reliever Lither Sosa to allow two hits while striking out seven in four shutout innings of relief.

Hillsboro and Vancouver will face off again tonight at 7:05 p.m. at Hillsboro Ballpark.