Hops’ Avalanche of Walks Continues in Loss to Ems

EUGENE, ORE. (April 18, 2023) --- The Hillsboro Hops’ pitching staff issued nine more bases on balls in a series-opening 8-3 loss to the Eugene Emeralds at P.K. Park on Tuesday night. The Hops have walked 34 batters over the past three games. Despite three consecutive losses, Hillsboro (6-4) remains in a first-place tie with Vancouver. Eugene (5-4) won their home-opener, and the two-time-defending Northwest League Champions are a half-game out.

Emeralds left fielder Jared DuPere opened the scoring with a solo homer off Hops starter Yilber Diaz in the second inning. Then, in the third, Diaz issued three free passes (a hit batter and two walks) and all three scored. Wade Meckler --- drafted in the eighth round last year by Eugene’s parent club, the San Francisco Giants, out of Oregon State University --- had a sacrifice fly to make it 2-0. First baseman Logan Wyatt followed with a three-run homer to right field, and it was 5-0 Ems.

The Hops threatened to erase the deficit, scoring twice in the fourth and once in the fifth (catcher J.J. D’Orazio and right fielder Kevin Graham had RBI hits) to make it 5-3. But Eugene scored twice in the seventh and once in the eighth, with bases on balls figuring prominently in both innings.

Diaz (0-1) took the loss. Spencer Bivens (1-0) got the win in relief.

Despite the win, Eugene committed three more errors, giving them 14 in nine games, tied for second-most among the 30 High-A clubs.

Hillsboro pitching recorded 13 strikeouts, one shy of the team high for the season. But it was again the bases on balls that did them in. Entering the season, the Hops had issued nine or more walks 25 times in 797 games, about once every 32 games. They have done so five times in 10 games this season.

On Wednesday, Hillsboro will look to even the series at a game apiece. Airtime from P.K. Park will be 7:20, with first pitch at 7:35 on Rip City Radio 620AM and at www.RipCityRadio.com.