Eugene Scores Three in the Ninth in Hops’ Loss

(Hillsboro, Oregon)- The Hops took on Eugene in the Friday night matchup for the fourth game of the series at Hillsboro Ballpark. The game was tied at 1-1 until the bottom of the seventh when Hillsboro scored a run. In the eighth, the Hops tacked on another run, going up 3-1 . The top of the ninth crumbled down onto Hillsboro, with three earned runs being enough for Eugene to pull out the 4-3 win.

Eugene got on the board in the second, after Hops' starter Roman Angelo gave up a lead-off walk which was driven in by a sacrifice fly.

Hillsboro did not stay down long, scoring a run off of Eugene starter Manuel Mercedes to tie it up in the bottom half of the inning. Jack Hurley hit a ground-rule double and was driven in by Manuel Peña after he singled to center field.

Angelo retired six straight Emeralds’ batters in the third and fourth innings going toe-to-toe against Manuel Mercedes.

In the bottom of the sixth Mercedes gave up a double to Andrew Pintar followed by a walk before getting pulled and replaced by Seth Corey. Pintar stole third and scored on a fielder’s choice before ending the inning. Mercedes was responsible for the run.

Angelo went six-and-a-third innings for the Hops’ striking out seven, and allowing two walks and one earned run. For Eugene, Mercedes pitched for five-and-a-third innings allowing two earned runs and striking out five.

Seth Corry pitched one-and-two-thirds innings for Eugene, striking out two Hops’ batters and allowing one hit.

In the top of the seventh Alfred Morillo took the mound for Hillsboro, allowing a lead-off walk but no runs in his appearance.

Jose Fernandez hit a double in the bottom of the inning and was driven in by a David Martin RBI single to give the Hops a 3-1 lead.

Jhosmer Alvarez took the ball from Morillo in his scoreless appearance for Hillsboro.

Cameron Cotter came in for Eugene in the eighth, allowing Pintar to single but nothing more.

Listher Sosa came in for the Hops in the ninth inning in an attempt to close the 3-1 game out. A lead-off hit by pitch was the start of the run-scoring inning for Eugene. A double and sacrifice fly allowed Eugene to tie the ball at 3-3. An RBI single from Tanner O'Tremba put them up 4-3. Listher Sosa caught a runner stealing to end the inning.

The Hops could not come back in the bottom of the inning and lost the game 4-3.

Andrew Pintar and Jose Fernandez went two-for-four with a double apiece. Roman Angelo only allowed one earned run in his performance.

For Eugene, Turner Hill went two-for-three with a double. Cameron Cotter got the win.

Game five of the series will be played at 4:05 pm at Hillsboro Ballpark on Thursday. The pregame show will start at 3:50 pm on Rip City Radio 620 AM.