The Hillsboro Hops' brief one-game winning streak is over. Hillsboro fell 9-8 to the Vancouver Canadians on Tuesday, July 21, at Hops Ballpark in the opener of a six-game home series, dropping their 15th loss in the last 17 games.
The Hops trailed 9-4 entering the bottom of the ninth and mounted a furious rally, highlighted by JD Dix's two-run triple.
But with the tying run on base, Brady Counsell flied out to right field to end the game.
Hillsboro actually led twice early. Kayson Cunningham and Jakey Josepha cracked back-to-back RBI doubles in the first inning to put the Hops up 2-1. In the third, Jose Mejia singled to center to drive in Cunningham and make it 3-2.
Vancouver erased that lead and then some.
The Canadians broke a 3-3 tie with three runs in the seventh, powered by Jake Casey's two-run homer and Edward Duran's solo shot.
Tucker Toman also went deep for Vancouver. The trio combined to go 6-for-13 with six RBI and three runs scored.
Cunningham led the Hillsboro offense, collecting two hits, two RBI, and three runs scored. Counsell and Mejia each added two hits. Kenny Castillo was the only Hops player without a hit.
On the mound, starter Kyle Ayers gave up three runs before handing the ball to the bullpen. Reliever Tayler Montiel surrendered three more and took the loss. Joangel Gonzalez also allowed three runs in the ninth before the Hops' comeback bid fell short.
Vancouver reliever Jay Schueler earned the win after entering for starter Silvano Hechavarria and spinning three perfect innings.
The loss extends a brutal stretch for the Arizona Diamondbacks' High-A affiliate. Entering the series, the Hops held an 8-16 second-half record and sat in last place in the Northwest League standings, seven games behind co-leaders Everett and Spokane.
That slide represents a dramatic reversal: as recently as late June, Hillsboro was 6-3 and atop the NWL second-half standings after winning five straight series.
The Hops and Canadians meet again Wednesday, July 22, at 6:35 p.m. at Hops Ballpark for Game 2 of the six-game set. Hillsboro remains home through the following week, when they host Everett for another six games.
