Hops foil C's in final series opener

Addison Barger had two hits and an RBI for the Vancouver Canadians on Tuesday. Photo: Vancouver Canadians/Twitter

September 14, 2021

Official Vancouver Canadians News Release

HILLSBORO, OR – The Vancouver Canadians were defeated by the Hillsboro Hops (Diamondbacks) 7-4 Tuesday night at Ron Tonkin Field.

The Hops took the lead for good with four runs in the top of the fourth. Starter Adam Kloffenstein (L, 7-7) was perfect for his first three innings before a hit batter on his first pitch of the fourth put the first runner on base for Hillsboro. A two-run homer two pitches later spoiled the no-hitter and the shutout then the Baby Snakes struck for two more runs on four hits to lead 4-0. Of his six innings of work, Kloffenstein was perfect in four of them and didn’t allow a run in five of six.

Vancouver spoiled the no-hitter and the shutout in the bottom of the fifth. Addison Barger doubled, Trevor Schwecke singled in a run and later scored on a sacrifice fly.

Hillsboro responded with two unearned runs in the sixth with a strikeout plus wild pitch, a single and a two-run throwing error on a ground ball that could have ended the inning but instead put the Hops in front 6-2.

A two-run bottom of the sixth helped the C’s draw within a pair again. Will Robertson singled, PK Morris was hit by a pitch and Barger singled home a run. Schwecke’s RBI ground out made it 6-4 Hillsboro.

In the ninth, the Hops added a run on a walk, a double and a wild pitch to lead 7-4 and eventually win by that score.

Barger, Ray and PK Morris were all promoted from Low-A Dunedin prior to the game to make their High-A debut. Barger finished 2-for-4 with a double, a run scored and an RBI, Ray had a hit and Morris was hit by a pitch and scored a run.

Alex Nolan (Burlington, Ont.) gets the ball for Vancouver in game two on Wednesday night and will be opposed by Hillsboro’s Justin Vernia.