D-backs minor league report: Hillsboro 1 win away from title
Hillsboro moved one victory away from a second consecutive Northwest League championship with a 2-1 victory over Tri-City on Thursday night.
Outfielder Luis Veras was in the middle of both runs for the Hops. In the second inning, he tripled to center field and scored the game's first run on a single by Alexis Olmeda. Then with one out in the eighth, after the Dust Devils had evened the score, he delivered a bases-loaded single to score Dansby Swanson with the winning run.
Brett Shankin started for the Hops and pitched seven innings, giving up five hits, one run, one walk and striking out five. Ariel Hernandez got the final five outs to get credit for the win.
MISSOULA: Outfielder Jason Morozowski, the D-backs 13th-round draft pick in June out of Mount Olive College, hit for the cycle as the Osprey stayed alive in the Pioneer League semifinals with a 7-5 win over Billings.
Morozowski tripled in the first inning, doubled in the third and singled in the fifth. He completed the cycle by belting a home run to right field in the seventh inning to give the Osprey a much-needed insurance run.
"This is the first one that I can remember," Morozowski told milb.com. "It really didn't even cross my mind until a teammate brought it to my attention. I was just trying to go out there and do anything I could to help us win tonight, to give us another shot tomorrow."
With the series tied at one win apiece, Missoula will host the decisive game on Friday night.
KANE COUNTY: The Cougars' season came to an end with a 3-2 loss to Peoria in the Midwest League semifinals. Brad Keller started and took the loss, giving up five hits and three runs in six innings of work.
BASEBALL AMERICA HONORS: D-backs prospect Brandon Drury was named the second baseman on Baseball America's minor-league All-Star team. Drury hit a combined .303 with 40 doubles, five home runs and 61 RBI while splitting his season between Double-A Mobile and Triple-A Reno. Reliever Silvino Bracho, who had 16 saves and a 1.81 ERA at Mobile, was a second-team selection.
Visalia second baseman Jamie Westbrook (.319, 17 home runs, .510 slugging percentage) was named to the High-A All-Star team; Hillsboro's Cody Reed (5-4, 3.27 ERA) was named to the Short-Season All-Star team; and Missoula shortstop Isan Diaz (.360, 13 home runs, .640 slugging) and designated hitter Austin Byler (.298, 15 home runs, .636 slugging) were named to the Rookie League All-Star team. Diaz was named the Rookie League Player of the Year.
