A walk-off single ended the Hoptown Hoppers’ two-game winning run in a 5-4 loss to the Henderson Flash on Monday. The North Division-leading Flash improve to 22-6 while the Hoppers slip to 12-15 overall.
Down a run in the top of the 5th, the Hoppers got on the board on Ren Tachioka’s sacrifice fly. However, in the bottom of the frame, RBI singles by Casey Sorg and Grant Mangrum put the Flash up 3-1.
A three-run 7th, including run-scoring singles from Will Spear and Alex Archuleta, gave the Hoppers their first lead of the night at 4-3. But that would be the last time Hoptown crossed the plate, and the Flash evened things up with a run in the bottom of the 8th.
After the Hoppers went down in order in the top of the 9th, Henderson put the winning run on with a lead-off single by Sam McFarland. McFarland stole 2nd to get into scoring position and came home when Kyle LaVanchy singled on a 2-1 pitch from Hoptown’s Chase Harlan.
Harlan took the loss for the Hoppers, allowing two earned runs on three hits with a walk. Starter Luke Genier lasted five frames, giving up three earned runs on four hits with two walks and six strikeouts.
Spears led the Hoppers at the plate with three hits, and Anthony Zarlingo hit safely twice.
Nolan Patterson struck out all three batters he faced to pick up the win for Henderson. Sorg was two-for-three at the plate with a pair of RBI, and Mangrum and LaVanchy each finished with two hits.
