The skies were somewhat grey at the start of Boise's game against Hillsboro Wednesday night. While the sun peeked out from behind the clouds as the game got underway, the atmosphere became greyer with each successive inning.Hillsboro starting pitcher Connor Grey tossed seven innings of two-hit ball, allowing just three
The skies were somewhat grey at the start of Boise's game against Hillsboro Wednesday night. While the sun peeked out from behind the clouds as the game got underway, the atmosphere became greyer with each successive inning.
Hillsboro starting pitcher Connor Grey tossed seven innings of two-hit ball, allowing just three baserunners and the Hops gave him a late boost of offense in a 6-1 win at Memorial Stadium.
Hillsboro improved to 4-1 against Boise this season, handing the Hawks their eighth consecutive defeat.
The NWL leader in wins, Grey ran his Hops record to 6-2, striking out six batters without a walk. The only Boise run was unearned, a result of Grey's throwing error on a bunt by Ryan Metzler leading off the fifth inning. Metzler was trying to break Grey's groove after the righthander had retired 12 consecutive batters.
The Hops scored in the first inning on a two-out RBI single by Pavin Smith for the second consecutive night. In the top of the fifth, Tra Holmes reached base on a throwing error by Boise catcher Hidekal Gonzalez, scoring on a double to left by Jorge Perez.
Perez added an RBI single in the seventh inning as the Hops plated four runs to take a 6-1 lead. Smith contributed his second two-out RBI single of the night. Earlier in the day, the NWL batting leader was named an All-Star game starter at first base, along with Eudy Ramos, who will start at third base.
Rico Garcia fell to 0-4 on the season and 0-8 in his two-year career in the NWL, allowing seven hits and four runs, three earned, over 6 1/3 innings. Garcia retired 11 straight batters after Smith's single in the first inning.
Boise got little help from its beleaguered bullpen as Alec Byrd inherited two baserunners in the seventh before issuing three walks and a hit, allowing an earned run of his own.
Ryan Grotjohn went 3-for-4 with a run scored for Hillsboro, his second straight multi-hit game in the series. Perez scored a run to go with his two RBI. The 19-year-old outfielder played left field Wednesday night after starting in right field Tuesday and in center field in his Hops' debut vs. Spokane Monday night.
J.B. Moss had both of Boise's hits off Grey, a leadoff double in the first inning and a one-out single in the sixth. Matt McLoughlin waited unitl the ninth inning for the second straight night to extend his hitting streak to 11 games with a single off Hops' reliever Kevin Ginkel.
Hillsboro goes for the series sweep Thursday night as NWL All-Star Riley Smith looks to rebound from a rocky start against Spokane against Boise's Garrett Schilling. Pre-game airtime is at 6 p.m. on Rip City Radio 620 AM with the first pitch scheduled for 6:15.
