Hops return in dramatic fashion, as offense heats up

August 8, 2022 – Northwest League (NWL) – Hillsborough Hoops News Release.

EVERETT, WA – Hoops scored 13 runs and 18 hits last night, followed by 14 runs and 16 hits on Sunday. Hillsboro scored the first hit for the ninth time in 10 games, hitting a home run for the ninth straight game. Jordan Lawler has gone 4-for-6 with a double, a home run, four RBI and three runs scored since joining the Hoops. Gary Mathis Jr. was late into the lineup after joining the team this morning and finished the game just shy of a triple-double, including his first high-A home run that tied the game at 11. Davison De Los Santos homered again, his fifth blast in 15 games and finished the game with three RBI. The Hoops had their longest hitting streak of the season at five after a 14-11 win at Everett.

Everett had three singles in the first inning, but AJ Vukovich scored the final out of the game, striking out Alberto Rodriguez on a groundout by Daryl Gomez. It was 0-0 after one period.

The scoring started in the third inning as Davison De Los Santos hit a two-out, two-run homer against Brian Wu. The home game at De Los Santos makes Hillsborough’s home streak nine games.

Trent Tingelstad led off the third inning by hitting a home run on the first pitch he saw from Luke Albright. The bases were loaded later, after one and two walks, sending AquaSox catcher, David Sheaffer to the plate. Schaefer belted the ball to left field, missing the grand slam by inches. Instead, he cleared the bases with a three-RBI double. Luke Albright was pulled after 2.2 innings, allowing seven hits and five earned runs. There were eight combined runs in the third inning as Everett took a 5-3 lead.

The first two runners reached base for the AquaSox in the fourth inning off Marcos Tineo, the first reliever for the Hoops. Robert Perez Jr. hit a three-run shot to the opposite field, his third of the game, to give Everett an 8-3 lead.

Brian Woo left the game after pitching four innings, allowing seven hits and two earned runs. The first of six relievers for Everett was Seattle Mariners closer Diego Castillo. Castillo made his first rehab appearance in the minors after going to IL with a “swelling in the right shoulder” and it was an outing he’d like to forget. The first four batters reached base, with De Los Santos and Malave scoring a run on singles, scoring another run on an error. AJ Vukovich hit another clutch double and drove home two with a single to tie the game at 8. Castillo allowed four runs and recorded just two strikeouts.

Everett scored in the sixth and Dariel Gomez hit a league-leading 18th home run of the season with a laser shot down the right field. Gomez’s loss was the third time Everett scored three runs in an at-bat.

The Hoops came back from an 8-3 deficit early in the game, but found themselves trailing again in the late innings. Hillsboro put together three straight two-run innings to stave off the comeback as Everett led 11-8 heading into the seventh inning.

Jordan Lawler smacked a single back up the middle, scoring two runs. Gary Mathis Jr. hit his first High-A home run with two outs in the eighth to tie the game at 11 and the Hoops wound up with two outs. Voice. Chaney Ortiz was brutal with two outs when he ripped a RBI double to left-center.

Christian Montes de Oca pitched a scoreless bottom of the eighth, putting himself in position to come back for the ninth.

Lawlor belted his second High-A home run to left field, his fourth of the game and his third and fourth RBI in the ninth to ensure Montes de Oca had some insurance.

Montes de Oca entered the final frame with a 14-11 lead and a shutout on Everett, producing two and preserving the Hoops’ fifth straight victory. Montes de Oca has 5/5 chances to save against Hillsboro.

Hillsborough scored 25 runs in 34 overs in the last 24 hours. They now return home on Tuesday against the Spokane Indians for a 12-game homestand starting with six. First pitch will be at 7:05 p.m., with the pregame show at 6:50 p.m. on Rip City Radio 620 and MiLB.tv.

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