Ems score late, Steal Game 2 in Vancouver

Thanks to strong pitching and 2 late runs in the 8^th inning, the Ems squeaked out a 2-1 victory in Game 2 of a 5 game series against Vancouver, in front of 6,344 fans at Nat Bailey Stadium.

Enrique De Los Rios toed the rubber for the Emeralds (10-6), and he struggled to get his footing and command in the 1^st inning. After Brock Lundquist reached 1^st on a fielder's choice with 2 outs, Riley Adams drilled a full count pitch down the left field line. With Lundquist taking off on the delivery to home, he rounded third and scored standing up, giving the Canadians (10-6) an early 1-0 lead.
De los Rios would settle down the rest of the way, finishing with 5 innings pitched and giving up just 1 earned run on 1 hit to go along with 2 strikeouts and 4 walks.
Wilfri Aleton started for Vancouver, and he pitched brilliantly for the home squad, limiting the Ems to just 3 hits in his 5 innings of work. Donnie Sellers pitched 2 scoreless innings of relief afterwards, making way for Justin Dillon in the 8^th. That's when the Ems made their move.
Rafael Narea led off the 8^th with a leadoff infield single, stealing 2^nd on the first pitch of the next at bat to Miguel Amaya. Amaya then poked a ball towards the 5-6 hole, where shortstop Kevin Vicuña's throw sailed into the Ems' dugout, allowing Narea to score and Amaya advance to 2^nd, tying the game at 1 apiece.
Gustavo Polanco ripped a first pitch fastball high down the right field line, which appeared as if Brock Lundquist could make a catch on the run. The ball dropped in and rolled to the corner, with Amaya initially stuck between 2^nd and 3^rd, not knowing if the right fielder could make the catch. With the late start, Amaya was gunned down at home plate on the relay throw from second baseman Cullen Large, with Polanco advancing to third on the throw.
Joe Martarano followed up Polanco with a sacrifice fly to center, giving the Ems a 2-1 lead they would not relinquish.
Yapson Gomez (3-0) threw 3 scoreless innings of relief, with Michael Knighton tossing a 1-2-3 ninth inning for his 3^rd save of the season.
The win puts the Emeralds at 10-6 on the season, as well as posting their 8^th win in 9 games.
Game 3 of the 5 game series is Saturday night, July 1^st, which also happens to be Canada Day. Be sure to catch all of the action north of the border at 7:05pm on 95.3 The Score.