C's let golden opportunity 'slip away' vs. Tri-City
(Scotiabank Field at Nat Bailey Stadium - Vancouver, BC) - A one out home run of the bat of Canadians SS Dawel Lugo in the bottom of the 9th inning helped Vancouver send Wednesday's game vs. Tri-City to extra innings before the Dust Devils would find a run in the top of the 14th inning to top the Canadians 4-3.
Canadians starter RHP Jeremy Gabryszwski allowed runs in each of his first three innings going 5 2/3 countering Tri-City starter RHP Konner Wade who limited Vancouver to a lone run while scattering four hits over his 6 2/3 innings of work.
With the Canadians two outs away from defeat, SS Dawel Lugo hit a two-run home run off of Dust Devils reliever RHP Trent Daniel to send the game to extra innings tied at 3-3.
In the bottom of the 12th inning, the Canadians had a chance to complete the comeback when RF Melvin Garcia opened the inning with a single off of RHP Troy Neiman which was followed by a hard double off the bat of PH Dan Arcila. The ball from Arcila skipped under the glove of Tri-City LF Michael Tauchman allowing Garcia to try for home as opposed to stopping at third base. As Garcia came around third base he slipped and after picking himself up off the ground was thrown out by Tauchman who wouldn't have had a chance for the putout had Garcia not fallen in foul territory.
In the top of the 14th inning, Canadians reliever RHP Justin James, the 7th arm of the night for Vancouver, allowed a leadoff single to C Ashley Graeter who was immediately lifted for pinch-runner Marcos Derkes. James would get the inning to two outs with a runner out at second base before he got CF Kyle Von Tunglen to ground out to Canadians 2B Christian Vazquez who bobbled the baseball allowing the inning to continue with runners at first and third base. Seconds later, SS Patrick Valaika would reach base on a throwing error to Canadians 3B Justin Atkinson that scored 2B Patrick Hutchenson for a 4-3 lead.
RHP Jared McCrummen would come in for a perfect bottom of the 14th inning to secure the victory.
Notes: With the loss, Vancouver was eliminated from claiming the North Division second half pennant. As well, Everett topped Spokane 4-2 on Wednesday night eliminating Tri-City from claiming the North Division second half pennant. However, should Everett win the second half pennant, it would give them both the first and second half, allowing Spokane, Vancouver and Tri-City to be judged on winning percentage over 76 games and currently the Canadians (36-35, .507) lead both Spokane (35-36, .493) and Tri-City (32-39, .451) with five games remaining. Vancouver also holds the head-to-head match-up vs. Spokane should both teams finish with equal records at the end of 76 games.
The Canadians play game two of this three-game series vs. Tri-City on Thursday, August 29th at 7:05pm out at historic Scotiabank Field at Nat Bailey Stadium with RHP Tom Robson (2-0, 1.11) on the mound for Vancouver. This game is SOLD OUT, but the Canadians have tickets to the Friday, August 30th 1:05pm Power Smart 'Nooner presented by BC Hydro set for 1:05pm.
Tickets to Vancouver Canadians Baseball are available by calling 604.872.5232, on-line at www.canadiansbaseball.com or by visiting the Nat Bailey Stadium Box Office at 4601 Ontario Street in Vancouver, B.C.