Two-Out Homers Power Canadians Over Hops

Hillsboro, OR (August 1, 2023) – The Hops and Canadians met for the 19^th time in 2023 on Tuesday at Ron Tonkin Field. The first half Northwest League Champs continued their success over Hillsboro, led by a pair of two-out two-run home runs by Devonte Brown and Michael Turconi. Kevin Miranda pitched five scoreless innings, as the C’s won their 15^th game of the season against the Hops. Christian Cerda hit a three-run homer for Hillsboro and Joe Elbis pitched seven innings, but it wasn’t enough as the Hops fell 4-3 in game one of the series.

Joe Elbis made his 18^th start of the season for Hillsboro, his second against Vancouver. The Canadians would ground into a double play in both the first and second innings, as Elbis escaped both frames without allowing a run. Josh Kasevich led off the top of the third by reaching base on an E4 and later came in to score on an opposite field home run by Devonte Brown that hit off the foul pole. Two batters later, Michael Turconi added to the Vancouver lead with a two-run shot of his own. Turconi’s blast was his sixth of the season and 38^th and 39^th RBI. Vancouver had a 4-0 lead after three.

Meanwhile, Kevin Miranda efficiently sent the Hops down in the first four frames, facing just one batter over the minimum. In the third and fourth innings, Miranda needed a total of just 12 pitches to record six outs. He had thrown just 36 pitches through four innings without allowing a run. Miranda left the game after five complete innings and allowing just two hits. He did not walk or strikeout a batter.

Eric Pardhino was on to face the top of the Hillsboro order in the sixth inning and walked back-to-back batters, Patiño and Pintar. With two on and two out, Christian Cerda hit a line drive home run over the left field fence to make it a one run game. The homer for Cerda was his fourth in High-A in just 13 games.

Hops’ pitchers faced the minimum number of batters in the 5^th-8^th innings, keeping Vancouver off the board. Joe Elbis finished seven innings, allowing four runs, but none earned. It was the longest outing of his professional career. Carlos Meza and Billy Corcoran recorded strikeouts on five of six batters in the eighth and ninth, giving Hillsboro one final chance in the ninth.

Tanner Benson had a sub 1.00 ERA in seven outings against Hillsboro this season and would continue his success in the eighth and ninth innings. He worked around a single walk in both frames to close the door and record his first professional save, in the 4-3 Vancouver win.

All seven runs in the game came on two-out home runs, as Devonte Brown and Michael Turconi went deep for the C’s and Christian Cerda for the Hops.

Game two of the series will be at 7:05 at Ron Tonkin Field on Wednesday night. First pitch is at 6:50 on Rip City Radio 620 and Bally Live.