A BC Sweep As Hops Blank Vancouver

Going into the first-half stretch run, it appeared as if the Hillsboro Hops had the toughest schedule among the four Northwest League South Division teams angling for a playoff berth. A major reason why was the five games they had to play at Nat Bailey Stadium in Vancouver, historically the toughest venue for visiting teams in the league.
For the first time in team history, the Hops came back through customs with five more wins to declare.
Tyler Keele tossed five innings of one-hit shutout ball and the Hops backed him up with a half dozen early runs in a 6-0 win over the Canadians Wednesday afternoon, completing a rare five-game road sweep over the Toronto Blue Jays' NWL affiliate.
After 19 extra-base hits in the previous two wins over Vancouver, all the Hops needed were nine singles on Wednesday. Four walks by Vancouver starting pitcher Donnie Sellers and three Canadians errors certainly didn't hurt Hillsboro's cause.
Sellers lasted just two innings, giving up a pair of runs in the first and two more in the second. The Hops tallied two more runs in third off reliever Yonardo Herdenez and cruised the rest of the way, leaning on the pitching of Keele and relievers Matt Peacock and Rafael Pujols, who limited the Canadians to just three hits in the Hops' second shutout of the season.
Keele, battling a stomach bug, left the game after five innings, fanning seven with two walks and only one hit allowed. Peacock and Pujols put up identical lines, combining for four strikeouts and no walks while allowing one hit each over the final four innings.
Camden Duzenack and Bryan Araiza led off the game with back-to-back walks, scoring on a Yan Sanchez sacrifice fly and a wild pitch to give the Hops a 2-0 lead after one inning. 
A one-out walk to Dan Swain preceded a trio of singles in the second inning, Duzenack and Sanchez driving in a run each to put Hillsboro up 4-0.
Facing a new pitcher and catcher in the third, the Hops loaded the bases on an error, a Daulton Varsho base hit and a bunt single by Tra Holmes. Ryan Grotjohn forced in Drew Ellis with a bases-loaded walk and Duzenack drove in the Hops' sixth run with a sac fly.
It was more than enough for Keele, who retired 12 of the first 13 batters he faced before Kacy Clemens' leadoff single in the fifth.
Duzenack had two hits and a walk, driving in two runs with a run scored. Sanchez had a pair of runs batted in and Bryan Araiza added two hits. Six different Hops scored a run.
Hillsboro returns home with at least a share of first place in the NWL South, a half-game up on Boise and Eugene, who each play tonight. Four games remain before the first-half cut-off and first-half division champions are crowned.
The Hops open a five-game series against the Spokane Indians Thursday night at Ron Tonkin Field at 7:05 p.m. Live radio coverage begins with the pregame show at 6:35 p.m. on Rip City Radio 620 AM.

Tyler Keele tossed five innings of one-hit shutout ball and the Hops backed him up with a half dozen early runs in a 6-0 win over the Canadians Wednesday afternoon, completing a rare five-game road sweep over the Toronto Blue Jays' NWL affiliate.
After 19 extra-base hits in the previous two wins over Vancouver, all the Hops needed were nine singles on Wednesday. Four walks by Vancouver starting pitcher Donnie Sellers and three Canadians errors certainly didn't hurt Hillsboro's cause.
Sellers lasted just two innings, giving up a pair of runs in the first and two more in the second. The Hops tallied two more runs in third off reliever Yonardo Herdenez and cruised the rest of the way, leaning on the pitching of Keele and relievers Matt Peacock and Rafael Pujols, who limited the Canadians to just three hits in the Hops' second shutout of the season.
Keele, battling a stomach bug, left the game after five innings, fanning seven with two walks and only one hit allowed. Peacock and Pujols put up identical lines, combining for four strikeouts and no walks while allowing one hit each over the final four innings.
Camden Duzenack and Bryan Araiza led off the game with back-to-back walks, scoring on a Yan Sanchez sacrifice fly and a wild pitch to give the Hops a 2-0 lead after one inning. 
A one-out walk to Dan Swain preceded a trio of singles in the second inning, Duzenack and Sanchez driving in a run each to put Hillsboro up 4-0.
Facing a new pitcher and catcher in the third, the Hops loaded the bases on an error, a Daulton Varsho base hit and a bunt single by Tra Holmes. Ryan Grotjohn forced in Drew Ellis with a bases-loaded walk and Duzenack drove in the Hops' sixth run with a sac fly.
It was more than enough for Keele, who retired 12 of the first 13 batters he faced before Kacy Clemens' leadoff single in the fifth.
Duzenack had two hits and a walk, driving in two runs with a run scored. Sanchez had a pair of runs batted in and Bryan Araiza added two hits. Six different Hops scored a run.
Hillsboro returns home with at least a share of first place in the NWL South, a half-game up on Boise and Eugene, who each play tonight. Four games remain before the first-half cut-off and first-half division champions are crowned.
The Hops open a five-game series against the Spokane Indians Thursday night at Ron Tonkin Field at 7:05 p.m. Live radio coverage begins with the pregame show at 6:35 p.m. on Rip City Radio 620 AM.