Canadians Return To First Place With 9-3 Win

EUGENE, OR – A five-run third highlighted by Max Viera’s second grand slam in as many weeks proved to be plenty of offense in a 9-3 Canadians triumph over the Eugene Emeralds (SF) Saturday night at PK Park. With the win, the C’s have regained sole possession of first place in the Northwest League second half standings with 13 games remaining.

With the game tied at one after two, the C’s used a single, a hit batter and a walk to load the bases for Maddox Latta, who delivered a go-ahead infield single to keep the bags full. Up stepped Viera, who hit a towering drive off the videoboard in left field for what proved to be the game-winning blow.

Latta provided the final haymaker in the seventh when he uncorked a three-run shot to ice the game. It was his second homer of the series, fifth this month and eighth of the year.

Vancouver started the scoring in the top of the first. Bryce Chance singled to begin the game, went to second on a wild pitch, scampered to third on a fielder’s choice then came home on a Ryan Sprock sacrifice fly before Eugene used two hits in the home half to pull even.

On the mound, Troy Guthrie (W, 3-2) turned in another strong outing in his age-20 season. The right-hander held the Ems to two runs on eight hits, matched a career high with eight strikeouts and issued no walks. Gilberto Batista (H, 2) tossed three innings of one-run ball – with the lone score coming on a solo homer – and Colby Holcombe got the last three outs to secure the victory.

With the win, the C’s are guaranteed a split in the Emerald City and will go for their third consecutive series win tomorrow afternoon. Landen Maroudis makes his second start of the week opposite Eugene’s Hunter Dryden. First pitch is slated for 1:05 p.m. on the C’s Broadcast Network.