Canadians take second straight from Hops

(Scotiabank Field at Nat Bailey Stadium - Vancouver, BC) - The Vancouver Canadians got Ladner, BC native RHP Tom Robson an early lead and the team never looked back, as the C's rolled to an 8-2 victory over the Hillsboro Hops in front of a sold out crowd at Scotiabank Field at Nat Bailey Stadium.

Robson picked up the win in his home debut after going six solid innings, allowing just one run on four hits and one walk while striking out six. The righty has now allowed just one earned run and seven hits over 11 2/3 innings pitched since being called up to Vancouver last week.

Both teams tallied in the first inning, but the Canadians scored twice off of Hillsboro starter RHP Blake Forslund to take a 2-1 lead after one. Hops leadoff hitter RF Brian Billigen hit a double and came around to score on a ground ball double play in the top half of the frame, but the C's took the lead when C Mike Reeves hit a two-run single with two outs. The lead was pushed to two in the next inning when CF Chaz Frank hit an RBI triple.

Vancouver only recorded one hit in the fifth inning, but they still managed to add three runs. Hillsboro made two errors that allowed two runs to score, while 3B Justin Atkinson added a RBI groundout. When Hillsboro scored an unearned run in the top of the seventh, the C's bounced back with two more of their own to make it 8-2 on a RBI single from Fermin and a RBI double off the bat of DH L.B. Dantzler.

LHP Matt Dermody came on in relief of Robson, giving up one unearned run and striking out six batters over two innings of work. RHP Justin James pitched a scoreless final inning to close out the victory.

With the win, Vancouver moves to 6-6 (.500) in the second half of the 2013 Northwest League season and 28-22 (.560) overall, while Hillsboro falls to 6-6 (.500) and 17-33 (.340).

The rubber match of this five-game goes tomorrow afternoon at 1:05pm, and it is an A&W Family Fun Sunday. Vancouver will send Lethbridge, AB native LHP Shane Dawson to the mound, while Hillsboro will counter with RHP Ross Gerdeman. Tickets can be purchased by calling 604.872.5232, on-line at www.canadiansbaseball.com or by visiting the Nat Bailey Stadium Box Office at 4601 Ontario Street.