MARENCO HOMERS, BUT SOX FALL TO HARBOURCATS

VICTORIA, B.C. - Mason Marenco continued his solid start to the 2018 season, but the Wenatchee AppleSox lost 7-1 to the Victoria HarbourCats on Saturday night at Royal Athletic Stadium.

Marenco singled twice, walked and homered to reach base in all four of his plate appearances. His third-inning home run was his second extra-base hit of the season and the first AppleSox homer of the 2018 season.

The HarbourCats struck early and often with identical two-run outbursts in the first and second innings to take an early 4-0 lead. Marenco's homer just below the scoreboard in left-center field cut the deficit to three, but Victoria regained its four-run cushion when a wild pitch allowed a runner to score from third with two outs. 

The HarbourCats scored single runs in the sixth and seventh innings to pad their lead and claim an eventual six-run victory. Victoria's offensive success was buoyed by its ability to get leadoff batters aboard. In six of their eight innings, the HarbourCats' leadoff man reached, including in each of the first three innings. Four of those batters eventually came around to score.

Cameron Dunn, who joined the AppleSox two hours before first pitch, tossed a scoreless eighth in his season debut. 

The AppleSox and HarbourCats will clash again tomorrow in the series finale of their season-opening series. The rubber match is set for 1:05 p.m. from Royal Athletic Stadium. Hunter Boyd will toss for the AppleSox against Connor Nantkes of the HarbourCats.