Hops Win at Everett with Clutch Hitting, Strong Relief

August 4, 2022 – Northwest League (NWL) – Hillsboro Hops News Release

EVERETT, WASH. — After a dozen straight head-to-head losses to the Everett Aquasox, the Hillsboro Hops finally got a win on Wednesday night at Everett Memorial Stadium. A.J. Vukovich and Ramses Malave hit home runs, newcomer Jacen Roberson had a two-run double, and Kyle Backhus worked two scoreless innings to close out the 6-5 win.

The Hops scored three times in the first inning on one swing. After Jordan Lawlar was hit by a pitch and Deyvison De Los Santos walked, Vukovich got into an extended battle with Everett starter Logan Rinehart. Vukovich fouled off five consecutive 0-2 pitches before belting a three-run home run to left field. In the second, Malave also went yard, a solo shot to left, to make it 4-0.

Everett played longball themselves in the bottom of the second. After Hops starter Avery Short walked Robert Perez Jr. to lead off the inning, Dariel Gomez hit his league-leading 18th home run, a no-doubter to right field. Two batters later, Justin Lavey homered to right — a solo shot, his second dinger in two games, to cut the Hops lead to 4-3.

Marcos Tineo relieved Short after a leadoff walk in the bottom of the third, and got a double play and a strikeout to end the inning. Tineo, however, ran into problems in the fourth. Perez drew another leadoff walk, and three batters later, Lavey had an infield hit. A passed ball scored one run, a Ty Duvall single brought home another, and the Sox had a 5-4 lead.

But Hillsboro had a comeback of their own. In the top of the sixth, facing Max Roberts, Vukovich dropped a looper into right field for a base hit, and Caleb Roberts had an infield single. Wilderd Patino sacrificed the runners to second and third, just the Hops’ fourth sacrifice bunt this year. That set the table for Roberson, playing his first game at High-A after his promotion from Visalia. Roberson drove an opposite field line drive to left, over the head of Cole Barr for a two-run double and a 6-5 Hops lead.

The Hillsboro bullpen took over from there, holding Everett scoreless despite some shaky moments. Junior Mieses walked the first two batters in the bottom of the sixth, but second baseman Channy Ortiz followed the walks with a brilliant play. With runners at first and second and none out, Everett’s third baseman Ben Ramirez hit a looping line drive toward Ortiz. He appeared to lose the ball in the lights, but later reports indicated he had dropped it on purpose. Ortiz…