The Hillsboro Hops fell further behind in the Northwest League standings on Friday night, suffering a 4-2 defeat at the hands of the Spokane Indians.
The early lead allowed Spokane starter Bryson Hammer to pitch with a comfortable cushion, which he used to challenge Hillsboro hitters with high-velocity fastballs.
His presence in the middle of the order forces opposing managers to make difficult decisions regarding whether to pitch to him or risk putting him on base for the power hitters behind him.
While Hillsboro starters have often found themselves fighting out of early holes, Spokane’s rotation has worked with clinical precision, rarely allowing the Hops to build momentum in the first half of the game.
As noted by the Hillsboro News Times , the capacity crowd arrived on the eve of the Independence Day holiday, indicating strong community support despite the team's recent on-field struggles.
Spokane Indians defeat Hillsboro Hops 4-2 behind Tommy Hopfe’s 19-game hit streak, leaving the Hops three games out of first place.