Stadium: AutoZone Park (Capacity: 9,486)
August 9: Hops 7, Aliens 4
August 10: Hops 5, Aliens 4
August 11: Aliens 5, Hops 4
Flagstaff, AZ (AP) - The Flagstaff Hops took two of three from the Roswell Aliens in a battle of two teams locked into the Mountain League Wild Card chase. All three games were closely contested and these same two teams will meet next week in Roswell.
The Hops opened up a huge series at home against the Roswell Aliens with a come from behind 7-4 victory. Art Mason hit for the cycle, driving in three to help pace the Hops to the big win.
Roswell jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the fourth on an RBI single from Hudson and a two-run single from Schwarzfeld. But the Hops replied immediately with four in the bottom half. Oscar Aleman hit a three run home run to right center to tie the game and then Art Mason tripled home Shoe-Lace O’Tying to give Flagstaff the lead.
The Hops would add a solo home run from Josh Ortega (19) in the fifth and an Art Mason two run home run in the sixth, his 21st, to go up 7-3.
Danny Watson would hit a long solo home run in the eighth off of reliever Wirth. It was his 33rd on the year, tying him for the Mountain League lead with Flagstaff’s Rodney Millar.
Angelo Chacin (3-1) earned the win, gong five innings and allowing three runs on five hits. He struck out five and walked one. The bullpen worked the final four innings ad allowed just the solo home run to Watson. Vic Miller struggled, allowing a hit and walk, but managed to tightrope out of it to secure his 29th save.
Dwayne Parks (7-5) took the loss for Roswell. He only went 4 1/3 and allowed five runs on ten hits.
On Wednesday evening the Hops rallied late, blew a lead, and then walked it off as they defeated the Aliens 5-4. Art Mason’s single back up the middle scored Skyler Lyons with the winning running as Flagstaff celebrated a huge win.
Tied at two, late in the game, the Hops hit back-to-back home runs in the bottom of the eighth as Rodney Millar hit his 33rd and Robbie Westbrook blasted his 19th, to put the Hops up 4-2.
Manager Bud Black trotted starter Shoe-Lace O’Tying back out to start the ninth. He got the first out, but surrendered a double to Blake Pacinelli. Black brought in closer Vic Miller and the first pitch that he threw, Damien Hudson blasted over the wall in dead center to tie the game at four. It was Miller’s fourth blown save and third since the All-Star game.
In the bottom half, Josh Ortega led off with a single and Skyler Lyons pinch ran for him. He advanced to second on a ground out and scored on Art Mason’s two-out RBI single to walk it off.
Vic Miller (2-1) got the win, despite the blown save. Shoe-Lace O’tying went 8 1.3 innings, allowing three runs on six hits. He struck out nine and did not walk a batter.
In the finale, the Aliens held off the Hops 5-4 to avoid the sweep. Joe Gallagher was the hero for the Aliens, hitting a three-run go-ahead home run in the sixth that proved to be the winner.
Robbie Westbrook homered twice for the Hops, both solo shots and Arturo Mardones hit a two-run home run in the losing effort.
The Hops loaded the bases with two-outs in the ninth off of Roswell closer Raymond Lane, but could not push across any runs as Josh Ortega flew out to center to end the ball game.
Roswell ace David Lee (11-8) picked up the win. He pitched six innings, allowing four runs on just four hits. The bullpen held the Hops scoreless over the final three innings with Lane picking up his league leading 37th save.
Ryan Pressley (7-10) pitched well, but that three-run home run in the sixth did him in. He went seven innings, allowing the five runs on nine hits.
The Hops (59-58) will host Prescott (46-70) to close out the home stand for a three game weekend series.
Notes: The Hops have claimed reliever Peter Colon and RF Cade Matthews off waivers from Yuma.
Around the League: Forth Worth rallied from a 9-2 deficit to stun red-hot Santa Fe 10-9 with a home run from Randy Klaus to tie it in the bottom of the ninth and a walk-off sacrifice fly from Kraus in the 10th. Steve Marquez hit a three-run home run to key the St. George Archers to a 4-0 victory over Salt Lake as they move farther ahead of Flagstaff in the ML West.
Armando Bermudez tossed seven shutout innings, but got a no decision in Gilbert’s 1-0 walk-off win over Tucson at Sloan Park. Ryan Rodriguez doubled home Steve Heupel with the game winning run as Gilbert stretched it’s lead in the DL East to 8 1/2 games over Salt River.
A Joel Valdez two-run home run in the ninth sent Santa Fe to a 3-1 victory over Fort Worth in a series with big playoff implications.
<img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52411921899_545eed1fa0_o.jpg" width="720" height="405" alt="Series37_22">
Art Mason hit for the cycle in the Hops 5-4 win on Wednesday evening.
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