Tachioka Drives in a Pair to Lead Hoppers Past Chiefs

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The Hoptown Hoppers bounced back from their first defeat of the season with a 5-3 over the Paducah Chiefs on Saturday, led by three hits from Joshua Rodriguez and a pair of RBI for Ren Tachioka.

Hoppers’ starting pitcher Zach Duenes and the Chiefs’ Matthew Wrinkle dueled through four scoreless innings before Paducah broke through with a run in the top of the 5th.  Former Lyon County catcher Brody Williams drew a walk to lead off the frame ahead of a single by Krayton Morse.  Kyler Carmack’s sacrifice fly brought home Williams to put the Chiefs in front.

After a pair of singles and a hit by pitch to start the bottom of the 5th, the Hoppers tied the game on an RBI by EJ Alanis.  Drew Donaldson followed with a bunt single to score Tachioka for a 2-1 advantage.

With the game tied 2-2 in the bottom of the 6th, the Hoppers took the lead for good on Tachioka’s two-run triple.  Alex Archuleta reached on a hit by pitch, and Joshua Rodriguez singled to set the table for Tachioka.  He fouled off five pitches before smacking a 2-2 offering to center field.

Another former Lyon County Lyon made his presence felt for the Chiefs in the top of the 7th when Gunnar Bingham singled to score Williams and cut the Hoppers’ lead to a run.  However, Hoptown restored the two-run edge on a passed ball in the bottom of the 8th and held on for the win.

Duenes earned the victory with seven innings of work, allowing three earned runs on five hits with two walks and eight strikeouts.  Aaron Moss pitched two scoreless frames and fanned four.

Wrinkle lasted four and a third for the Chiefs, surrendering two earned runs on three hits with five walks and a pair of strikeouts.  In relief, Jonathan Barnes worked three innings, giving up three earned runs on four hits to take the loss.

The Hoppers and Chiefs will do it all again on Sunday in a rematch at Brooks Stadium in Paducah.

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