Dawson dominant for C's in 4-0 win over Hillsboro Hops
(Scotiabank Field at Nat Bailey Stadium - Vancouver, BC) - A nine strikeout performance from Lethbridge, AB native LHP Shaun Dawson helped pace the Vancouver Canadians to a third straight victory over the Hillsboro Hops, 4-0 on Sunday afternoon.
Dawson (1-0, 0.00) dominated over his six scoreless innings of work, striking out nine batters and allowing four hits and no walks. The only trouble he got into was in the fifth inning when he had runners on the corners with one out, but the left-hander got both SS John Leonard and CF Taylor Ratliff to strike out ending the offensive threat.
After being no-hit by Hillsboro starter RHP Ross Gerdeman through the first four innings, 3B Justin Atkinson got the C's offence going in the 5th inning. Atkinson singled to lead off and that was followed by a walk to RF Brenden Kalfus followed by a sacrifice bunt by 1B Dan Arcila. After a strikeout, C Seth Conner delivered a single that scored two runs to give Vancouver the lead, and CF Chaz Frank then followed that up with an RBI double that brought the lead to 3-0.
The only other offence came in the sixth inning when C's added a fourth run to their total. LF Ian Parmley reached first on a bunt single and moved to second on an error, and after advancing to third on a passed ball he scored on an RBI single from DH L.B. Dantzler.
LHP Scott Silverstein came on to pitch the next 1.1 innings for the Canadians, and left in the eighth inning with runners on the corners with one out. The inning was then promptly ended when RHP Garrett Pickens entered the contest, as he induced a ground ball double play to keep the game scoreless. He retired the side in order in the ninth, picking up the save and closing out the victory.
With the win, Vancouver moves to 7-6 (.538) in the second half of the 2013 Northwest League season and 29-22 (.569) overall, while Hillsboro falls to 6-7 (.462) and 17-34 (.333).
The C's will now have some time off for the Northwest League All-Star break (August 5-7), but eight Vancouver players will be heading down to Everett on August 6th to take part in the game.
After the break the team heads to Boise for a five-game series starting August 8th through 11th before heading back to Vancouver for eight games (August 13-20). Tickets to that series can be purchased by calling 604.872.5232, online at www.canadiansbaseball.com or by visiting the Nat Bailey Stadium Box Office at 4601 Ontario Street.