Spokane Spoils Hillsboro Hops Ballpark Opener 7-3 as Tucker's Two-Run Single Breaks Tie

HILLSBORO, Ore. — The Hillsboro Hops waited years for a new home, and on Tuesday night they finally got to play in it. The result did not cooperate. The Spokane Indians spoiled the first game ever played at Hillsboro Hops Ballpark, beating the Hops 7-3 on April 7 in front of 4,674 fans, according to the official box score.

It was a big night for the franchise and for the region. KOIN reported the $157 million ballpark sits across the street from the team's old home and is the first new stadium in the Portland metro area in nearly three decades. The baseball, though, picked up right where the Hops' opening weekend had left off. Hillsboro had been swept in a three-game set at Eugene to start the season, and the loss to Spokane dropped the Hops to 0-4, as KPTV noted.

A Tight Game Through Five

For most of the evening this one looked like it might give the home crowd something to celebrate. Spokane took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Kevin Fitzer doubled with two outs and Tommy Hopfe followed with a single to left off Hops starter Kyle Ayers. Ayers limited the damage from there, working four innings and allowing one run on four hits with three strikeouts.

The Indians added a run in the fifth against reliever Sam Knowlton, when two walks and a wild pitch put a pair of runners on, a bunt forceout left men at the corners and Robert Calaz pushed a run across on a fielder's choice. A double play kept it at 2-0.

Hillsboro answered in the bottom half. Trent Youngblood singled against Spokane starter Everett Catlett, and Yerald Nin lined a double to left to score him for the first Hops run in their new park. Slade Caldwell then grounded into a force play that brought Nin home, and the game was tied 2-2.

Spokane Pulls Away Late

The tie did not last long. In the top of the sixth, Knowlton hit Fitzer with a pitch, Hopfe beat out a bunt single and a passed ball moved both runners into scoring position. Tevin Tucker then singled to drive in both runs, putting Spokane in front 4-2. Knowlton took the loss, charged with three runs (two earned) over two innings.

The Indians manufactured another run in the seventh without the benefit of a hit. Caleb Hobson walked against Rocco Reid, stole second, stole third and scored on a wild pitch to make it 5-2. Spokane put the game away in the ninth against Ricardo Yan, who walked the first two batters he faced before Max Belyeu singled home a run and Calaz doubled to center for another.

Catlett earned the win after five innings in which he allowed two runs on four hits and struck out six. Fisher Jameson followed with three scoreless innings out of the Spokane bullpen, giving up three hits.

One Last Push in the Ninth

The Hops made the final inning interesting. Avery Owusu-Asiedu led off with a single against Tyler Hampu, Youngblood walked and Modeifi Marte's groundout brought Owusu-Asiedu home to cut the deficit to 7-3. After Nin struck out, Wallace Clark and Caldwell both walked to load the bases and bring the tying run to the plate. Yassel Soler grounded out to third to end the game.

That sequence summed up the night. Hillsboro matched Spokane with eight hits, spread across seven different hitters, but went 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position and left eight men on base. Spokane went 4-for-14 in those spots and took advantage of four walks issued by Hillsboro relievers over the final three innings.

Calaz finished 2-for-5 with two RBIs, and Tucker drove in two runs as well. Hobson walked twice and stole two bases. Soler had two of the Hillsboro hits.

A New Home and a Young Roster

The game marked the first home date of the Hops' 13th season, according to KPTV, which also pointed to the Arizona Diamondbacks prospects in the Hillsboro lineup, including Caldwell, Soler and Owusu-Asiedu. Brady Counsell, the son of Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell, played left field and had a hit and a stolen base.

KOIN reported the new park includes an updated food menu, a team apparel store, a club space with large balconies overlooking the field, roomier seats, new turf and athletic training rooms for players. The conditions on opening night were friendly, too: the official box score lists a 60-degree, partly cloudy evening for the scheduled 6:35 p.m. start.

Spokane improved to 3-1 with the win. For Hillsboro, the first win in the new ballpark would have to wait at least one more day. The six-game series continued Wednesday night at Hillsboro Hops Ballpark, again with a 6:35 p.m. first pitch, and the Hops had plenty of reasons to believe the next result would look different. They had played Spokane even for five innings, put the tying run at the plate in the ninth and given a crowd of nearly 5,000 a first look at a ballpark built to last for decades. Opening night will be remembered for the building. The scoreboard can catch up later.

Photo Credit: Aaron Leopold/Undrafted