Lemieux's First Win Evens Series with Boise
August 28, 2016 - Northwest League (NWL1)
Hillsboro Hops News Release
HILLSBORO, OR - After letting a late lead slip Friday night, the Hops entered Saturday evening's contest looking to get a bad taste out of their mouths. The bats arrived early and the arms were dominant as the Hops took a bite out of Boise to the tune of a 7-1 win.
Mack Lemieux got the start for Hillsboro and turned in the best start of his young career. The 19-year old southpaw recorded his first Hops win as he posted five shutout innings. He allowed just two hits, issued a lone walk and struck out seven.
Lemieux, just a teenager and in his first year of pro ball after being selected in the sixth round of the 2016 draft, is on a strict innings limit. He was lifted after five innings as Shelley Duncan turned to Wei-Chieh Huang.
Huang wasn't so bad himself. He allowed just one earned run in three innings of work while striking out four. He turned it over to Connor Grey to work the ninth inning who navigated around a pair of hits to post a scoreless frame. Grey has been extremely effective since his assignment to Hillsboro in early August. After today, he is through 6.2 spotless frames with ten punchouts.
The three primary offensive heroes of the game were Mark Karaviotis, Josh Anderson and Manny Jefferson. Each notched two RBIs and Karaviotis and Anderson both recorded multi-hit games.
The biggest blow to the Hawks was dealt in the second inning. First baseman Alexis Olmeda led off with a single to right off of Boise starter Breiling Eusebio. Luis Veras followed with a bloop double to right and there were runners on second and third with no outs.
Jefferson came to the plate next and ripped a two-RBI single to center to plate Olmeda and Veras. Olmeda scored easily, but Veras chugged around and slid in safely to beat the throw from center. He celebrated with a chest thump and a roar.
The Hops weren't done in the frame. After Ben DeLuzio flew out, Adam Walton was hit by a pitch to move runners to first and second. When Jason Morozowski walked to load the bases, the stage was set for Karaviotis.
The former Oregon Duck had a bases-loaded chance on Friday and came through with a two-RBI single, and he did it again Saturday night. Karaviotis knocked a ball into left and Jefferson and Walton waltzed in. The four runs would be all Lemieux and Co. needed, but the Hops offense was happy to supply more.
Hillsboro plated two more in the fifth on an Anderson double to right. Anderson's multi-hit game brought his season average to .326. Karaviotis is currently hitting .333, which would challenge for a hitting title should he record enough at-bats to qualify.
The offense provided all the staff needed as the Hops cruised to the 7-1 win in a brisk two-hour, seventeen-minute game.
The teams will meet Sunday afternoon in the rubber match of the series. It's a 1:05 start at Ron Tonkin Field. Pregame radio will be at 12:35 on Rip City Radio 620 AM. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.
Northwest League Stories from August 28, 2016
- Tejeda's Two Taters Not Enough in Tough 3-2 Loss - Spokane Indians
- Hops Take Early Flight to Playoffs - Hillsboro Hops
- Volcanoes Lose 14-9 in Shootout - Salem-Keizer Volcanoes
- Aces Wild as Indians Fall 9-3 in Front of Sellout Crowd - Spokane Indians
- Lemieux's First Win Evens Series with Boise - Hillsboro Hops
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