Hops Stun Devils on Yerzy 9th-Inning Blast
Ron Tonkin Field has been home to many, many magic moments since opening in 2013. And Saturday night tops them all.The Hillsboro Hops were down to their last out in the bottom of the ninth inning of game one of the Northwest League Championship Series, trailing the Tri-City Dust Devils
Ron Tonkin Field has been home to many, many magic moments since opening in 2013. And Saturday night tops them all.
The Hillsboro Hops were down to their last out in the bottom of the ninth inning of game one of the Northwest League Championship Series, trailing the Tri-City Dust Devils 3-2. Hops first baseman
It was an utterly incredible moment --- a walkoff blast clubbed by Hillsboro's all-time leader in games played. And it capped an entertaining game in front of 2,220.
Yerzy's blast spoiled an excellent outing by Tri-City starter
Dust Devils DH
Tri-City led 2-1 going to the top of the ninth, and added an insurance run on a single by
That set the stage for the bottom of the ninth. Tri-City left-hander
Dust Devils manager Mike McCoy then summoned right-hander
Yerzy's blast made a winner of Hops 18-year-old reliever Brennan Malone, who had worked the top of the ninth.
Malone was selected with the 33rd pick in the 2019 draft, one slot before Hops starter Drey Jameson. Jameson, a 22-year-old out of Ball State University, had his best start as a professional, tossing three shutout innings, with two hits, one walk and four strikeouts.
Game two of the series --- the final game of the year at Ron Tonkin Field in 2019 --- will be at 5:05 PM on Sunday. Games 3-5 will be at Gesa Stadium in Pasco, Wash., Monday through Wednesday, the final two games if necessary.
Sunday's radio pregame show begins at 4:35 PM on Rip City Radio 620 AM, and on the internet at www.RipCityRadio.com.