Stadium: AutoZone Park (Capacity: 13,406)
June 3: Bison 3, Hops 2
June 4: Hops 9, Bison 3
June 5: Bison 5, Hops 0
Flagstaff, AZ (AP) - The Flagstaff Hops returned home and dropped two of three to the West Texas Bison in a matchup of fourth place teams.
The Bison opened up their series in Flagstaff with a 3-2 victory on Monday evening. A three-run seventh inning keyed the win for the visitors.
Flagstaff would grab a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the sixth on Roberto Geronimo's 12th home run on the season, a solo shot off of Dan Bell.
West Texas would respond immediately in the top of the seventh off of Hops starter Russell Fluty. Alfonso Ryan hit a two-run home run, his tenth on the year, and Phelps hit a two-out RBI single to put the Bison up 3-1.
Emmitt Hampton would draw the Hops closer in the eighth with a solo home run of his own, his eighth on the year, to cut it to 3-2. The Hops would have a great chance to tie in the bottom on the ninth off of closer Matthew Ball. Art Mason doubled to open the inning. After Josh Ortega grounded out to third, David Benitez hit a rocket to left, but it was hit so hard that Art Mason had to stop at third. Robbie Westbrook then worked the count full before smashing right right at first baseman Alfonso Ryan, who turned a 3-6-3 double play to end the ball game.
Russell Fluty (1-5) took the loss, but was once again very good. He allowed the three seventh inning runs, but scattered eight hits while striking out two and walking one. Dan Bell (3-5) picked up the win, throwing seven innings and allowing one run on five hits while striking out five and walking one.
On Tuesday evening, the Hops rallied from an early three-run hole to win going away, 9-3. Bradley York lead the way, going 2 for 4 with a home run, three RBIs and two runs scored to help pace the victory.
Ryan Pressley, one of the best pitchers in the IBL, struggled in the first inning, giving up two home runs as the Bison went up 3-0. Quentin Henley (8) opened the game with a solo home run and Bobby Rayburn (13) hit a two-run home run. After that Pressley would settle down and would not allow another run. He went seven innings, allowing the three runs on right hits while striking out ten and walking one as he improved to (6-3).
The Hops responded in a big way in the bottom of the first off of West Texas starter Carmen Sixto, scoring five times, capped off by a Bradley York three-run home run, his eighth on the year. They would chase Sixto in the second as Grant Mitchell blasted a two-run home run. Sixto (5-5) went one plus innings, allowing seven runs on eight hits. Josh Ortega greeted reliever Cabrera with a solo home run, his 15th on the year, to make it 8-3.
The Hops would get a Forrest Owen RBI single in the fifth to go up 9-3.
Flagstaff has struggled offensively all season but has now scored ten runs on Sunday and nine on Tuesday as they look to get things rolling as the calendar turns to June.
In Wednesday afternoon's finale, the Bison used a four-run fourth inning to power to a 5-0 victory and a series win. Geraldo Parra tossed a complete game four-hit shutout, striking out five to pick up the well deserved win.
The Bison broke a scoreless tie in the fourth off of Geradlo Rodriguez by scoring four times, all with no outs. Alfonso Ryan singled to open the inning and Bobby Rayburn doubled. David Petrovski then singled to center to score both runners and give the visitors the early lead. Earl Phelps then crushed the first pitch that he saw into the bleachers in right to make it 4-0, his tenth on the season.
West Texas would add a run in the ninth on a solo home run from Julio Padilla.
Geraldo Rodriguez (1-2) pitched well, but took the loss. He went six innings, allowing the four runs on eight hits, while striking out four and walking one.
Flagstaff had no extra base hits in the game.
The Hops will have Thursday off before hosting ML West leading Salt Lake in a big weekend series for the Hops. They can get right back in the race if they can sweep the slumping Chukars.
Trades: The Hops have sent 31-year-old starting pitcher Ramon Garcia (87 OVR, B POT) to Chandler in exchange for 28-year-old shortstop Ryan Kelly (85 OVR, B POT). Garcia, who came over at the trade deadline last season, has not lived up to the expectations in Flagstaff. Kelly was stuck behind star Scotty North while hitting .343 last season in 59 games.
The Hops have recalled starting pitcher Juro Yamaguchi from Triple-A Albuquerque and optioned reliever Abraham Lopes to Albuquerque.
Around the League: Henderson's Nino Soriano (6-2) tossed a compete game three-hit shutout as the Silver Knights took care of rival Las Vegas 6-0. Soriano struck out eight and walked two in the victory. Albert Zambrano went 3 for 4 with a double and drove in two for the Knights.
Salt Lake snapped an eight game losing streak as they used a six-run sixth inning to power past Colorado Springs 7-3. Derek Hills went 3 for 5 with a double, triple and two RBIs to help power the Chukars to the victory.
Chandler won their ninth straight game on Wednesday evening to improve to an IBL best (43-19). The defending champs defeated Rio Rancho 10-5. The Chiefs handed Rollie Flingers (10-2) just his second loss on the season, roughing him up for six runs (five earned) on 12 hits in five innings. Stanton Brickman went 3 for 4 with a double, home run (13), two RBIs and three runs scored in the victory.
<img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53560718504_325f12f0f2_o.jpg" width="720" height="405" alt="Series20_24"/>
Bradley York blasted a three-run home run in Flagstaff's win on Tuesday evening.
Comment