Hops' Newcomers Shine in 6-1 Win

Hillsboro, OR (July 22, 2022) – Fresh off an appearance at Dodger Stadium for the 2022 Futures Game, Jordan Lawlar got things started in the first inning, hitting his first High-A double. The three newest Hops, Wilderd Patino, Deyvison De Los Santos and Junior Mieses all made major contributions in their debuts. Patino homered in his first at-bat, De Los Santos had two singles and Mieses pitched a one-two-three ninth, while striking out the side. Luke Albright had a season high eight strikeouts in the 6-1 victory.

Lawlar doubled to the power alley in deep left center field in the first inning, missing a home run by inches. The double was the first hit of the game, with Lawlar coming in to score on a single that was scorched up the middle of the bat of Caleb Roberts.

After a 15 pitch first inning, Luke Albright doubled that in the second inning, throwing 30 pitches in the frame. The Dust Devils scratched across a run in the inning, after three walks and a single.

Patino broke the 1-1 tie in the second inning, homering off Zac Kristofak in his first at-bat as a Hillsboro Hop. Patino, who is second in Minor League Baseball with 54 stolen bases, also hit 8 home runs in Visalia. Hillsboro led 2-1 after two.

Albright walked four of the first eight hitters he faced, but after that threw strikes on 17-of-21 pitches. Albright lasted five innings, allowing just one hit and one run, while walking four. His eight strikeouts were a season high, as he picked up win number six of the season.

Hillsboro put up a four spot in the seventh inning against Emilker Guzman, although none of the runs were earned, after two Tri-City errors. The Hops had three hits in the inning, with the big hit coming from A.J Vukovich with two-outs in the inning. Vukovich’s two-RBI single gave Hillsboro a 6-1 lead.

The Hillsboro combination of Albright, Tineo, Saalfrank and Mieses held the Dust Devils to just two hits in the game. Mieses was electric in his Ron Tonkin Field debut, striking out the side to end the game.

With the addition of De Los Santos and Patino to the lineup, Hillsboro had seven of the Diamondbacks’ top 30 prospects in the lineup on Friday, including starting pitcher, Luke Albright.

Hillsboro (38-48) and Tri City (37-48) will play game two of a three game series on Saturday. First pitch is at 7:05, with the pre-game show at 6:50 on Rip City Radio 620 and MiLB.tv.