Ems Sweep Doubleheader from Hops

EUGENE, ORE. (April 22, 2023) --- Hillsboro’s pitching staff continued to struggle with command, walking 15 batters while losing a pair of games, 8-1 and 4-2, on Saturday evening to the Eugene Emeralds at P.K. Park. Bases on balls figured prominently in both losses.

Eugene’s Logan Wyatt singled home a run in the bottom of the first inning of game one, and it was still 1-0 Eugene heading to the top of the sixth. With two out, Hops DH J.J. D’Orazio and first baseman Shane Muntz had back-to-back ground-rule doubles to tie the game.

But disaster struck in the bottom of the sixth. Hops reliever Peniel Otano had come on to work out of a first-and-third, one-out jam in the fourth, but ran into problems in the sixth after issuing a leadoff walk to Wyatt. The next batter, Adrian Sugastey, lined one back to Otano. He had an easy double play at first, but his throw glanced off Muntz’s glove and Wyatt was safe. Jared Dupere then hit a hard would-be double-play ball under Muntz’s glove for an error, putting runners at first and third. Otano struck out Luis Toribio, and despite the two defensive mistakes, he was an out away from getting out of it with the tie intact.

However, he gave up a two-out walk to Victor Bericoto to load the bases. Junior Mieses came out of the Hops bullpen in search of the final out of the inning, but he proceeded to issue three consecutive walks, forcing home three runs. Wade Meckler --- the former Oregon State Beaver who entered the doubleheader leading all of professional baseball with a .500 batting average --- then removed all doubt by clouting a grand slam onto the roof of the bullpen in right. That made it 8-1 Eugene, and that would be the final score.

Hillsboro scored a pair in the top of the third inning of game two on a double by D’Orazio, to take a 2-0 lead, their first of the series. Eugene answered with a run in the bottom of the third on an RBI double by Aeverson Arteaga, and tied it in the fourth when Bericoto hit a solo home run leading off the frame. With two out in the same inning, Hops reliever Jose Alcantara got wild, walking a pair, and the number-nine hitter, Ghordy Santos --- who had struck out in his previous eight at-bats --- lined a ball over short to bring home the go-ahead run.

The Ems would add a run in the bottom of the sixth on a hit batter, a walk and an RBI single from Arteaga.

Along with their pitching woes, the Hops continue to struggle with runners in scoring position, going 2-for-19 in such spots in the twinbill. They left 11 men on base in the second game of the doubleheader, eight on second or third.

Hillsboro (6-8) has lost seven consecutive games. Eugene (9-4) has won five in a row.

Hillsboro will look to salvage the finale of the series on Sunday. Airtime will be 5:50PM, with first pitch at 6:05 on Rip City Radio 620AM and www.RipCityRadio.com.