Tucson opens defense of title with Game 1 win

Defending champion Tucson used three home runs and a sharp outing from top pick Rich Hill to take Game 1 over Hoboken, 6-4, in their Best-of-7 semifinal series.

The No. 2 seed Kingsnakes got to Max Scherzer early Thursday night, putting put up 4 runs in the 2nd inning. First baseman Sean Rodriguez started things off with a leadoff home run. Nolan Arenado singled before Kole Calhoun struck out but Zack Cozart - acquired from Livingston in May in exchange for Kyle Schwarber and a 4th rounder - homered to make it 3-0. Scherzer walked Kevin Kiermaier, who scored on a Starling Marte double before the inning ended.

Hoboken, the No. 3 seed, responded when Wilmer Flores took Hill deep to start the 4th. The left-hander countered by striking out four of the next five batters before existing after 6 innings.

After striking out the first two batters in the 5th, Scherzer issued a walk to Jose Altuve and Nelson Cruz made him pay. The MVP of last year's postseason sent the ball into the right-field seats for a 6-1 Kingsnakes' lead and that was the end of the night for Scherzer.

The Cutters got two back in the 7th. Ben Zobrist knocked a two-out double off Ryan Buchter and Hoboken sent up pinch-hitter Whit Merrifield but Tucson countered by calling in Bruce Rondon, who was dealt by Hoboken in the offseason to Empire City, which sent him to Tucson at the trade deadline. Merrifield still homered to left off the right-hander, cutting the lead to 6-3.

Rondon settled down to get through the 8th before Tucson closer Seung Hwan Oh came on for the 9th. Miguel Cabrera greeted the DMBL save percentage leader with a solo home run to cut the lead to 6-4 but Oh proceeded to strike out the side, earning the save in the Game 1 victory.

Hill, the third overall pick in this year's draft, struck out 7 over 6 innings, allowing just 1 run on 4 hits to earn the victory.

Julio Teheran was better than Scherzer in relief, tossing hitless ball over the final 3 1/3 innings, with 4 strikeouts in just 39 pitches. Scherzer, this year's strikeout king, struck out 9 in 4 2/3 innings but was lit up for 6 runs on 6 hits and saddled with the loss.

The Kingsnakes finished with 6 runs on just 6 hits, leaving only 2 men on base. Hoboken plated 4 runs on 8 hits, leaving 4 aboard.

Tucson won the season series against Hoboken, 7-3, and was 26-28 (.481) against the playoff field. Hoboken had a record of 23-31 (.426) against the five other playoff teams.