Fourth Straight Win Hands C's Series In Hillsboro

Vancouver triples four times, gets hits from eight of nine starters to beat Hops 8-4

(Mark Steffens - Fotoguy)

June 26, 2022

HILLSBORO, OR – A season-high four triples and 25 total bases helped spur the Vancouver Canadians to an 8-4 win over the Hillsboro Hops (Diamondbacks) at Ron Tonkin Field Saturday night. With the win, the C’s have taken four in a row from the Hops to win their first series

The C’s wasted no time getting their offense started. #6 Blue Jays prospect Leo Jimenez doubled with one out in the first and later scored on an infield single plus throwing error to get to Hillsboro starter Luke Albright (L, 3-4) for the first run of the night. They would double their advantage in the second when a two-out three-bagger from Andres Sosa – the first of the four triples – was plated by an RBI single from Anthony Morales to make it 2-0.

Starter Jimmy Robbins set down the side in order in the first but allowed a lead-off single then a two-run homer with one out to Neyfy Castilllo in the second that tied the game at two. The southpaw went on to work four innings, scattered four hits, didn’t allow another run and struck out three with no walks after issuing five free passes in his last start.

After a scoreless third and fourth, the Canadians took the lead for good with two runs in the fifth. Steward Berroa tripled to start the stanza and scored on Jimenez’s second double of the game. That bounced Albright and brought in Julio Frias, who threw a wild pitch to Damiano Palmegiani to move Jimenez to third before a sacrifice fly brought him home and put Vancouver in front 4-2.

Hillsboro got a run back in the bottom of the fifth against reliever Abdiel Mendoza (W, 4-0) after collecting two hits – a single and an RBI double – to start the inning, but the right-hander retired the next three batters to stymie the comeback effort and hung a zero in the sixth to get the win.

Three walks and a two-out, two-RBI single from Miguel Hiraldo in the seventh and a Harry Ray triple, a Morales RBI double and a run-scoring two-bagger from Berroa in the eighth built enough of a cushion for the C’s to cruise to victory after Sean Wymer got the last six outs of the game to secure an 8-4 win. Hillsboro’s only other run came in the bottom of the seventh on a solo homer from Channy Ortiz that was the first earned run of the year allowed by Ryan Boyer (H, 4) in nine appearances.

Eight of nine starters had a hit. Berroa, Jimenez, Hiraldo and Morales led the way with two knocks apiece. Addison Barger – who started the game at third but was removed in the bottom of the second inning after a foul ball off his foot in the first continued to ail him – had his hitting streak snapped at 11 consecutive games after getting only one at-bat.

The C’s will aim to establish a new season-long winning streak tomorrow afternoon when they go for their fifth straight win in the series finale. Lefty Naswell Paulino gets the ball for Vancouver while Hillsboro has yet to name their starter. First pitch is at 1:05 p.m. with coverage on CanadiansBaseball.com, MiLB.TV and the Sportsnet Radio Network.